David Shannon Ralston (1972)
RALSTON, KERR, MORRIS, GRADY
Posted By: Linda Brittain (email)
Date: 2/19/2007 at 18:43:37
Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, February 9, 1972, page 2DAVID SHANNON RALSTON
David Shannon Ralston, son of James and Margaret Janieson Ralston, was born on January 24, 1879, in Scott county, Iowa, on a farm near Eldridge.
On December 28, 1905 he was united in marriage to Bessie Mable Kerr of Pleasant Valley, Iowa. To this union was born two sons, Russell Kerr and Walter Vernon while they farmed near Eldridge. At the Summit Presbyterian church, rural Davenport, Mr. Ralston was ordained a ruling elder.
The family moved to a farm west of Earlham in 1912, and three more children were born in that home: Rosalie Pearl, Grace Lucille, and Howard Jamieson.
Mr. Ralston was installed as an elder in the First Presbyterian church of Earlham in April of 1912 and served actively in that capacity through 1957, a total of 45 years. He was commissioner to the General Assembly (national meeting) on two different occasions: Des Moines in 1922, and Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1947.
In addition to teaching a Sunday School class for many years, Mr. Ralston took an active part in the education of his family, and the young people of the community, and served on the school board for nine years.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralston moved from their farm home to Earlham in February of 1946, where Mrs. Ralston passed away in February 1961.
Death came quietly on the morning of January 26, 1972, two days past his 93rd birthday.
The living share in a multitude of pleasant memories of their father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Surviving are 15 great grandchildren, 17 grandchildren, and the children, who are: Russell of Earlham; Walter of Omaha; Mrs. Lewis Morris (Rosalie) of Earlham; Mrs. Wayne Grady (Grace), Cedar Rapids, and Howard of Waterloo.
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