Ronald (Ron) Gary Ralston

Mr. Ronald "Ron" Gary Ralston, age 57, went home to be with the Lord on May 25th. , at his residence following several years of declining health with cancer. He was surrounded by his friends and family. He was a native of Gordon County, born in Fairmount on August 3, 1952 to the late R. Marshall and Maude Patterson Ralston. He attended school at Sonoraville and graduated from Calhoun High School, which was followed by College at West Georgia and then graduating from the University of Georgia in 1973. After college he went to work in Dalton, Georgia dnd then moved from Gordon County to Dalton in 1976 when he started his own business. Licensed as a certified public accountant, with two offices, he had developed numerous real estate projects and diverse business in Dalton and Calhoun. Community involvement was very important and he was involved in 27 coubs and organizations. His primary interests included Boy Scouts, Gordon County Arts Council, and Kiwanis Club, serving as president of the last organizations. Currently he has been a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Hamilton Club, Dalton/Whitfield Chamber of Commerce, Calhoun/Gordon County Chamber of Commerce, Gordon County Historical Society, Safari Club International, Pope & Young Club, Georgia Wildlife Federation, Wild Life Federation of America, Heritage Foundation, National Rights to Work, Dalton/Whitfield Building Club, Greater Atlanta Safari Club, National Rifle Association, and the Republican National Committee. His greatest love was his involvement at church when he was able to attend. He was a member of the Calhoun Church of Christ and attended occasionally Dalton Central Church of Christ. Yearly, Ron gives college scholarships to deserving high school seniors for local high schools. Ron was also the past director of Jaycees, Whitfield-Dalton Child Care Center, American Heart Association, and Big Brothers. He presently gives office space for the jail ministry in Dalton. Sports interests after college were golf, tennis, softball and kararate winning numerous trophies and awards in each sport. Due to great love of the outdoors, nurtured by his parents growing up on the family farm in Gordon County, fishing and bow hunting were very important. In 1989 he resumed bow hunting and has hunted on 6 continents. He has taken five world records and was named International Bow Hunter of the Year for 1997 by the Safari Club Bow Hunters. He has taken thirty five species including lion, leopard, and water buffalo. His wife , Susan. and his children were involved in hunting and fishing also with him. He and his wife bought a farm in the Red Bud area in 1989. Years later, after much design work, they constructed their home and relocated there in January 1997. The home was named Buttercup Manor in honor of Ron 's favorite flower, the early flower of spring. Sharing their home has been a lobor of love for the entire family. The trophy room was in Volume Three of Trophy Rooms Around the World. Survivors include his wife, Susan Abernathy Ralston, children are 1 stepson; Samuel Murphree, 2 sons; Benjamin Will Ralston and Daniel Keith Ralston, and 1 daughter; Hannah Rose Yvonne Ralston, his mother; Maude Ralston, 1 brother; Howard Ralston, 3 sisters; Betty Payne, Barbara Cousins and Linda Dorsey, brother-in-law; Shane and Ann Abernathy, mother-in-law; Yvonne Abernathy. Various cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends survive. Special friends are Anna Cramer and James Woody, Brianna Buff, finance' of Samuel and step-grandchildren Bryson, and Bailey Buff. Special caregivers, Shane and Ann Abernathy, Yvonne Abernathy, employees of Complete HR, Calhoun Church of Christ, Amedisys Hospice, and Cormfort Keepers . Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 P.M. Friday May 28th. from the Calhoun Church of Christ with Ministers Scott Sides and Ross Jordan officiating. Interment will follow in the Haven of Rest Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers serving include Charles Headden, Franklin Cousins, Chris Hughes, Shane Abernathy, Ted Thompson, Tommy Dorsey and Jerry Blalock and they are asked to meet at the Calhoun Church of Christ at 1;45 p.m. Friday. The family will receive friends at the Thomas Funeral Home from 5:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. on Thursday evening. The family requests in addition to flowers contributions be made to The Ralston Family Foundation Scholarchip Fund for deserving High School Seniors in the Gordon County area at Attention Valerie at P.O. box 1566, Dalton, Ga., 30722 You may sign the online register book at WWW.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com Thomas Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.