Ralph Tedrow Wilkerson was born at home in Waco, Texas to Orvil Ralph and Evelyn (Tedrow) Wilkerson on November 5, 1933. He grew up in the Waco area, and worked on the family farm. He attended La Vega School and played drums in the high school band.
His career was as a dental technician at Ft. Hood, and he retired in 1995. Throughout his life, he had a wide variety of interests including computers, photography, traveling, fishing, and aviation. His many skills included carpentry, electric wiring, and plumbing.
In his later years, he enjoyed using embroidery machines to create beautiful pictures and making custom shirts with embroidered designs. He attended First Baptist Church in Bellmead.
Ralph is survived by a brother, Thomas Wilkerson of Waco, sister Evalena Wallis of McCloud, Oklahoma; sons Richard Tedrow (Roberta), Michael Keith (Estella), John Corey (Christie), David Randolph (Peggy); grandchildren Annamarie Wilkerson, Kathleen May (Shawn), John Jr., (Courtney), Buddie, Michael, and Nicholas; great grandchildren Cannon, Rosalie Elyzabeth, and Lillenne.