Charles A. Ralston, born October 23, 1923 in Lawrence, Kansas, passed into the arms of God on February 13, 2023 at the age of 99.
The eldest son of Charles E. Ralston and Daisy (Nottingham) Ralston, he lived his childhood on the family farm south of Lawrence. He attended school at the one-room Fairview-Blue Mound School, later graduating from Lawrence Memorial High School. He married Martha Koehler on January 27, 1951 and lived in the Lawrence area. They moved to Overland Park, Kansas in 1963 with their 2 children, Linda and Charles (Bill).
He was a proud member of the Millwright-Carpenters Union. He worked at Bendix Corporation 8 years and then at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, retiring after 32 years of service. He was always ready to lend a hand and give useful advice “based on his 35 years of safety training”. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite and the Abdallah Shrine Trail 70 unit. Riding his motorcycle in local parades and attending Shrine rodeos gave him great joy working in crowds. He’s never known a stranger – that would have been a big hello from Walmart! He was a longtime member of Valley View Methodist Church (now Church of the Resurrection-Overland Park).
He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Scott Ralston (Barbara) and Evelyn Schultz (Norman), and daughter-in-law Arl Lee Ralston. He is survived by the love of his life, Martha to whom he was married for 72 years, daughter Linda Milligan (Donald) and Charles (Bill) Ralston, 8 grandchildren: Kendra Brooks (Brian), Krista Stramel, Kelly Gardner, Jessie Dreiling, Darcy Gilpin (Corey), Delaney Yurkovich (Taylor), Heather Milligan-Day (Chris), Patrick Milligan (Sara) and 9 great-grandchildren: Brenton Wrigley, Leon Swords, Dayton Dreiling, Taylor Gardner, Finley Brooks, Franklin Brooks, Forest Brooks, Cassandra Day and Nolan Yurkovich. Needless to say, their home was filled with fun, laughter and noise with many family gatherings. The family would like to thank the staff of Brookdale-Rosehill Assisted Living and HCA Hospice for their care of him.
A celebration of life at the Church of the Resurrection – Overland Park (Valley View Methodist) 8412 W. 95th St. Overland Park, KS 66212 will be held April 29, 2023 at 2:00 pm. Reception in church to follow.
Donations can be made in his name to Shriners Hospital c/o Abdallah Shrine in Overland Park, Kansas.
