Grace Ralston

Grace Ralston passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 20, 2017. Grace Ralston was born in 1914 to James Earl Ralston and Elizabeth Breckenridge Ralston in Beloit, WI. She moved to Albuquerque in September of 1929 for the health of her brother, Harold E. Ralston, who for many years was the owner-operator of Ralston Oil Company, a Diamond Shamrock Distributor. Grace graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1932 and from St. Joseph School of Nursing in 1935.

While president of University Heights Elementary School's PTA (5-1-1952), she instituted a city wide program to provide preadmission health examinations for 1st graders. She served many years as Secretary and then as Worthy Matron of Adah Chapter No. 5 O. E. S. She retired from Blue Cross-Blue Shield of New Mexico as Vice President of Claims and Internal Services. She spent many years researching her family's genealogy, tracing the family heritage from the 20th century to medieval Scotland, summarizing the results by publishing two books: Saga of Our Kintyre Kin and Good Tracks.

Although Grace only lived in Tallahassee for ten years, she became active in Quilters Unlimited, serving as president in 1986. She formed a special friendship with several quilters. Many attended Florida State University baseball games with her and several visited her in Albuquerque. Grace so enjoyed sharing New Mexico with her Tallahassee friends. Grace followed FSU to Omaha twice always cheering for her Noles.

Grace is survived by her children, Kay Culley Pace of Tallahassee, FL, Jan Bryant of Albuquerque, and Ken Tharp and his wife, Brenda, of Atlanta, GA. Funeral Services will be private. Those who choose to make a memorial gift might consider Best Friends of Kanab, UT or the Animal Humane Association of New Mexico, where Grace served as a volunteer for several years.