John Gillespie Ralston Jr.'s Obituary
John Gillespie Ralston, Jr. passed from this life on September 16, 2010 in Wills Point, Texas. He was 97 years old. He was born to John and Daisy Ralston on August 17, 1913 in Oklahoma City. He graduated from Classen High School. He moved to Franklin County, Tennessee in 1931, during the Great Depression, to work the family farm. As a young man, John had an adventurous spirit. He moved to Miami, Florida to work for a ceiling fan company. He also lived in New York City, on the island of Manhattan, loading butter on a ship. In 1937, John moved to Fort Worth, Texas. He established his own business, selling used cars, and also worked for Mrs. Baird’s Bakery. He served in World War II, and was stationed at Camp Bowie, Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Fort Polk in Louisiana. He attended college at TCU in Fort Worth, before moving to the Dallas area, where he worked for the Post Office and the FDIC. In 1959, he married the love of his life, the former Dorothy Mae Sullivan. They made their home in Garland, and were married for 48 glorious years. She preceded him in death in 2007. He is survived by his nieces, Michele Lindsey of Wills Point, Jeannie Samuels of Anna, Cynthia Riley of Lake Lure, North Carolina, and Donna Bachelor of Jacksonville, Florida; also nephews, Michael K. Sullivan of Gladewater and Claude Lee Sullivan III of Mesquite; cousins, Wanda Hayes and Cathern Winton of Tennessee; and grandnieces, grandnephews, and many friends. Funeral services will be held at 12:30 PM, Sunday, September 19 at Restland Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the USO or the World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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