LTC Ralph P. Weber USA(Retired)
Cullum: 22615
Class: '59
Cadet Company: F1
Date of Birth: January 23, 1936
Date of Death: January 29, 2011 - View or Post a Eulogy
Memorial Article: http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/22615/
Mathew and Gladys Brabant Weber's number two son, Ralph Paul, was born in San Francisco (fifth generation) on 23 January 1936. He passed on to a better place from home in Canyon Lake on 29 January 2011. In 1954 attended UC/Berkeley briefly before switching to digging ditches for an underground pipeline company. Consciously avoiding the draft, he joined the California National Guard where his commanding officer spotted his potential and recommended him for testing leading to a Reserve Corps Component appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York.
Upon graduation in 1959 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Signal Corps. Approved for aviation training in 1963, Paul transitioned from fixed wing into helicopters as well as the deHavilland Caribou and US Navy surveillance aircraft. He served two Aviation/Signal/Military Intelligence tours in Vietnam and achieved an MSM degree from USC before being appointed as the Army's Joint Program Officer to the fledging classified USAF NAVSTAR GPS Phase 1 Development Program 1974-1978 in Los Angeles. The Army's and Magnavox's focus were on creating a portable GPS manpack—the 25-pound forerunner of today's palm pilot! [photo] In September 2010 he was among some of the "50 Heroes" honored at the Institute of Navigation/Global Navigation Satellite Systems 20th anniversary conference in Portland for contributing significantly to GPS's revolutionary development.
In 1979 Paul switched to the civilian side of aerospace for 17 years, primarily at TRW. The Webers moved to Canyon Lake in 1996, where Paul served continually on the CLAMS Board.
In 1960, near Stuttgart, Germany, Paul married Nancie Anderson. He is survived by sons Eric M. and wife Dawn of Orlando and Dennis D. and wife Jami of Dallas. A daughter, Kristin E. Weber, pre-deceases him. There are six grandchildren: Haley, Alexandra, Randall, Madison, Caroline, and W. J. Benton. He is also survived by his brother Matthew and Lee Weber of Chico CA, and Peter and Connie Weber of Claremont, plus several nieces and nephews and his long time companion, Wally Weber.
Services will be at the Canyon Lake Community Church on Tuesday, February
15th, at noon. Burial will be at West Point, New York. Suggested for donations:
West Point '59 Fund, LTC Art Griffin, 13860 Crabtree Way, Gainesville VA 20155.
Alternatively, Charter Hospice, 1012-G East Cooley Drive, Colton CA 92324.
The first
photo of the GPS [portable] manpack. It was on the cover of the first marketing
material into circulation regarding this revolutionary new navigational system.
Ralph Paul Weber '59 (F-1)
No. 22615
Born 23 January 1936—Died 29 January 2011, Canyon Lake CA
Interred West Point NY, 4 April 2011, Gravesite Section IX Row D Grave 086D
Gloomy with a chance of rain and snow did not diminish the desire to wish Paul God Speed at the Old Cadet Chapel, West Point, on Monday, 4 April. About 40 of our Eastern US family and friends gathered for the stirring ceremony graveside followed by a social reception at the historic railroad station alongside the Hudson. Chaplain (MAJ) Julie Rowan inspired with meaningful scripture, and our son Eric Matthew provided a heartfelt tribute (standing in on short notice after Dennis Walter reported himself ill, unable to attend from Austin). Our four grands from Dallas—Alex, Mas, Lulu, Benton—in rotation presented an original poem recalling Dad's favorite things, and the Florida grands, Haley and Randy, "welcomed Pawpaw home" in conclusion of the service.
Military graveside ceremonies cannot be topped as an uplifting, stirring emotional experience. And I challenge anyone who claims indifference to TAPS from among the gravestones. A representative of the Academy Superintendent ceremoniously presented me the flag that had covered Paul's remains—and that is now proudly displayed in the wonderful Class '59 display box. Thank you very much.
Al Phillips' support of long distance planning of this sendoff for Paul went beyond the call; I could not have done it without him and Mary Ann. In attendance representing alumni were also Jack '64 and Sam Price from Virginia's Blue Ridge. Paul rests in peace in his TRW-engraved cigar box, with our daughter Kristin and his mother-in-law Vera Anderson alongside. Of note, the Memorial Affairs Administrator, Dan Landot (personable, a font of burials history), tries to clump the alumni interments, loosely, by class. Wiley Harris and others neighbor Paul.
Paul's earlier service had been on 15 February at our Canyon Lake, California, Community Church; Pastor Peter Van Dyke presiding. That ceremony had been more focused on our West Coast family and friends and was a friendly, respectful farewell from our community and representatives of his aerospace years. More than 100 were energized by one speaker's determination to clarify for the parishioners how important Paul's contribution to the development of GPS had been. Those attending rewarded John Flanigan with a spontaneous ovation (I've never seen that before at a funeral). Representing the class and most welcome was Charlie Tennant.
