I remember Mr. Texter as a boy . . . a salute to him tonight will be in order.
Calvin Texter, 88, one of 'Darby's Rangers'
<O
</O
When Calvin Texter's wife was dying in 1982 she told him her last wish was that he marry Evelyn Lyle, a woman they knew through their Mount Washington church.
<O</O
Mr. Texter followed his wife's advice. He called up the pretty divorcee who had vowed never to marry again and asked her out. She agreed and, as Mr. Texter like to recount through their 28-year marriage, he knew from that very first date that his first wife was right.
<O</O
"He said to me every day, "Me and you and you and me, forever," said Evelyn Texter, 79, of Clermont County's Cherry Grove.
<O</O
Mr. Texter died July 8 at age 88 after a decade-long battle with dementia. In the end he was unable to eat or drink. But about two weeks before he died, he woke up long enough to kiss his wife's hands and arms, run his hands through her hair and tell her, "Forever," she said.
<O</O
Their love story was the cap of an exciting and daring life lived to the fullest.
<O</O
Mr. Texter was born in Columbus and raised in Cincinnati, attending Central High School, which no longer exists. After high school at age 19 he joined the U.S. Army where he was a member of the elite special operations unit Darby's 1st Ranger Battalion.
<O</O
Mr. Texter's son, Ronald Texter, 65, of Mt. Carmel, recounted his dad's heroism: Mr. Texter was among the first to secure the beach in Algiers for the landing of the North Africa campaign. With the Rangers he often went behind enemy lines to attack the Germans, securing areas for the advancement of troops. He was also one of 768 Rangers sent to Cisterna, Italy - and one of only six who returned.
<O</O
After that Mr. Texter was reassigned to the 4th Ranger Battalion.
<O</O
Later, Mr. Texter would return to the Army, serving in the Korean War.
<O</O
"His stint in Darby's Ranger's was the highlight of his life," Ronald Texter said.
<O</O
A movie - Darby's Rangers -- was made in 1957 based on the unit's experiences starring James Garner. The Texters attended the premiere, Ronald Texter said.
<O</O
After World War II, Mr. Texter returned to Cincinnati where he became a city firefighter, married and had a son and daughter.
<O</O
Ronald Texter, himself a retired Cincinnati Fire Department District Chief, didn't set out to follow in his footsteps, but did.
<O</O
"It was actually a fluke," he said.
<O</O
Ronald Texter was an Ohio State Highway Patrolman, but unhappy with that career path. So his father suggested he take the firefighters test.
<O</O
<O</OThe younger Texter passed and was assigned to his father's station house.
<O</O
"I had my first actual building fire with my dad," Ronald Texter said. Mr. Texter operated the pumps, while Ronald Texter fought the blaze. "At the time I wasn't thinking about my dad, but later it hit me that it was kind of cool that I had my first fire with my dad," Ronald Texter said.
<O</O
Mr. Texter's career of service instilled a sense of patriotism that lasted a lifetime.
<O</O
Every day Mr. Texter put up a flag in front of their home and saluted. And, he did the same for most of his neighbors on their cul-de-sac street.
<O</O
About a year ago, his failing health made that beloved task too difficult. So Mrs. Texter did theirs and neighbors did their own.
<O</O
They wanted Mr. Texter to see those flags.
<O</O
On the 4th of July, while Texter stayed at his son's home which was more comfortable in what his family knew were his last days, Mrs. Texter whispered in her husband's ear: "I got your flag out, put it up and I saluted it."
<O</O
In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Texter leaves his daughter Barbara Martin, 64, of Batesville, Indiana. He had three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
<O</O
He is preceded in death by his first wife of 35 years Virginia Texter.
<O</O
Funeral services will be held at T.P. White & Sons Funeral Home, 2050 Beechmont Ave., Mt. Washington, on Friday, July 15 at 10 am. Visitation is Thursday from 5 pm to 8 pm with Yeatman-Mt. Washington Lodge # 162 F. & A.M. and Scottish Rite Ring Services at 8 pm. Memorials may be directed to Parkside Christian Church, 6986 Salem Road, Cincinnati, OH 45230 or Vitas Hospice, where donations can be made online at https://www.vitas.com/community/Donate.aspx.<O></O>
Calvin Texter, 88, one of 'Darby's Rangers'
<O
</OWhen Calvin Texter's wife was dying in 1982 she told him her last wish was that he marry Evelyn Lyle, a woman they knew through their Mount Washington church.
<O
</OMr. Texter followed his wife's advice. He called up the pretty divorcee who had vowed never to marry again and asked her out. She agreed and, as Mr. Texter like to recount through their 28-year marriage, he knew from that very first date that his first wife was right.
<O
</O"He said to me every day, "Me and you and you and me, forever," said Evelyn Texter, 79, of Clermont County's Cherry Grove.
<O
</OMr. Texter died July 8 at age 88 after a decade-long battle with dementia. In the end he was unable to eat or drink. But about two weeks before he died, he woke up long enough to kiss his wife's hands and arms, run his hands through her hair and tell her, "Forever," she said.
<O
</OTheir love story was the cap of an exciting and daring life lived to the fullest.
<O
</OMr. Texter was born in Columbus and raised in Cincinnati, attending Central High School, which no longer exists. After high school at age 19 he joined the U.S. Army where he was a member of the elite special operations unit Darby's 1st Ranger Battalion.
<O
</OMr. Texter's son, Ronald Texter, 65, of Mt. Carmel, recounted his dad's heroism: Mr. Texter was among the first to secure the beach in Algiers for the landing of the North Africa campaign. With the Rangers he often went behind enemy lines to attack the Germans, securing areas for the advancement of troops. He was also one of 768 Rangers sent to Cisterna, Italy - and one of only six who returned.
<O
</OAfter that Mr. Texter was reassigned to the 4th Ranger Battalion.
<O
</OLater, Mr. Texter would return to the Army, serving in the Korean War.
<O
</O"His stint in Darby's Ranger's was the highlight of his life," Ronald Texter said.
<O
</OA movie - Darby's Rangers -- was made in 1957 based on the unit's experiences starring James Garner. The Texters attended the premiere, Ronald Texter said.
<O
</OAfter World War II, Mr. Texter returned to Cincinnati where he became a city firefighter, married and had a son and daughter.
<O
</ORonald Texter, himself a retired Cincinnati Fire Department District Chief, didn't set out to follow in his footsteps, but did.
<O
</O"It was actually a fluke," he said.
<O
</ORonald Texter was an Ohio State Highway Patrolman, but unhappy with that career path. So his father suggested he take the firefighters test.
<O
</O<O
</OThe younger Texter passed and was assigned to his father's station house.<O
</O"I had my first actual building fire with my dad," Ronald Texter said. Mr. Texter operated the pumps, while Ronald Texter fought the blaze. "At the time I wasn't thinking about my dad, but later it hit me that it was kind of cool that I had my first fire with my dad," Ronald Texter said.
<O
</OMr. Texter's career of service instilled a sense of patriotism that lasted a lifetime.
<O
</OEvery day Mr. Texter put up a flag in front of their home and saluted. And, he did the same for most of his neighbors on their cul-de-sac street.
<O
</OAbout a year ago, his failing health made that beloved task too difficult. So Mrs. Texter did theirs and neighbors did their own.
<O
</OThey wanted Mr. Texter to see those flags.
<O
</OOn the 4th of July, while Texter stayed at his son's home which was more comfortable in what his family knew were his last days, Mrs. Texter whispered in her husband's ear: "I got your flag out, put it up and I saluted it."
<O
</OIn addition to his wife and son, Mr. Texter leaves his daughter Barbara Martin, 64, of Batesville, Indiana. He had three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
<O
</OHe is preceded in death by his first wife of 35 years Virginia Texter.
<O
</OFuneral services will be held at T.P. White & Sons Funeral Home, 2050 Beechmont Ave., Mt. Washington, on Friday, July 15 at 10 am. Visitation is Thursday from 5 pm to 8 pm with Yeatman-Mt. Washington Lodge # 162 F. & A.M. and Scottish Rite Ring Services at 8 pm. Memorials may be directed to Parkside Christian Church, 6986 Salem Road, Cincinnati, OH 45230 or Vitas Hospice, where donations can be made online at https://www.vitas.com/community/Donate.aspx.<O
></O>
Comment