Lawrence Ralston

Lawrence Ralston, 93, of Benham passed away Friday, November 5, 2010 at the Waters of Salem in Salem, Indiana. He was born near Pleasant in Switzerland County September 22, 1917 the son of Clarence and Jessie Carnine Ralston. He was married to Mallie Lakeman on February 24, 1940 and she preceded him in death on December 7, 2003. Survivors include two sons Jim (Linda) Ralston of Salem and Doug (Lisa) Ralston of Evansville, Indiana; grandchildren Ryan Ralston of Lexington, Molly (Jared) Hammack of Avon, and Jenna Ralston of Chicago; two great-grandchildren; two brothers Dillman (Evelyn) Ralston of Clearwater, Florida and Earl (Shirley) Ralston of Tahola, Washington; two sisters Ruth Stegemiller of Southport and Mary Geyman of Madison; two sisters-in-law Patsy Ralston of Benham and Janice Furnish of East Enterprise. He was also preceded in death by his parents and his brother Bruce Ralston. Mr. Ralston was a 1935 graduate of Vevay High School, a 1939 graduate of Purdue University, and received his Masters Degree from the University of Michigan. He was an Army veteran of WWII serving as a Captain in the 89th division during the Invasion of France. Mr. Ralston had been an agriculture teacher in the Milroy, Milan, and Cross Plains school systems, retiring in 1978. He had also served for five years as a director on the Indiana State Fair Board, had served on the Milan Town Board, served several terms on the Ripley County Council, and also on the Ripley County Planning Commission. Mr. Ralston was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Olean, was the oldest member of the Versailles Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Salem Lions Club, and the Brown Township American Legion. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 10 at 11am at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Olean with Pastor James Culver officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military graveside rites by the Brown Township American Legion. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5pm to 8pm at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles and from 10am until time of services Wednesday at the church. The Versailles Masonic Lodge will conduct services at 8pm Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to St. Paul's Lutheran Church or the Washington County Community Foundation in care of the funeral home.