Dates
Ralph Lonny Whitehorn, 66, passed away peacefully at his Myrtlewood Estates residence on February 9, 2015.
Lonny was born on January 2, 1949, in Little Rock, Arkansas, the son of Ralph and Jean Whitehorn. After moving to Louisiana, at the age of 6, Lonny contracted Polio and undertook many operations and extensive therapy. Then in 1958, the family moved to San Angelo, Texas. Even with his disabilities, Lonny was a go getter. He attended school in San Angelo and graduated from San Angelo Central High School. He worked as a leather stitcher for several years and held his last job as a grocery stocker at the Goodfellow AFB commissary.
Lonny was a happy guy, and in the CB radio era, he was known as the "happy hippo"…that was his handle. He loved going to the Colt baseball games or just riding around town to see if anything had changed. He admired all the firemen, policemen, EMT's, and sheriffs in his town, and there were so many of them that reached out to Lonny and became his friend. His favorite thing in the world was being with his family. He loved hearing about his nephews and nieces. They really brought joy to his life. He had so many friends and never met a stranger. He just wanted "to be your friend". He loved to talk with people, and people loved to talk with him. Everyone who knew Lonny, knew he was a kidder and loved to tease. When he teased you, it meant he loved you. Lonny had such a kind and caring heart and he has left a mark on the hearts of so many. He was a true inspiration to so many who knew him. Even though Lonny had not been able to walk for many years, we know he is walking now, with his 'Daddy' and 'Little Sister', and his Lord.
Lonny was preceded in death by his father Ralph Whitehorn, and his sister Debbie Fielder; grandparents Harry and Melba Whitehorn; Lester and Erma Shelby; and aunts and uncle Don and Betty Shelby; and Sue Shelby.
He is survived by his mother, Jean Whitehorn, and sister, Connie Jackson, of San Angelo; niece Erica Finley and husband Scott of Lakeway, Texas; nephew Zachary Jackson and wife Jhaamel of Winston Salem, North Carolina; niece Morgan Bacia and husband Adam of Austin, Texas; cousin Donna Tafts and husband Dwayne of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; cousin Mary Bullock and husband Larry of Stillwater, Oklahoma; and his four great nephews and one great niece, Zane and Fielder Finley, Zephery, Zaijha and Zaiden Jackson.
Friends and Family may pay their respects Wednesday at Johnson's Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, February 12, 2015, at Southland Baptist Church with graveside services immediately following at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.
The family would like to express a special thank you to all the staff at Myrtlewood Estates for giving Lonny such wonderful care and making him feel truly loved. God Bless all the residences at Myrtlewood. He loved you all.