Russell Belden Ralston

Rusell grew up on the family farm near Roscoe, IL. and served in U S Navy during WW2. He died in Naples February 3, 2011.
He first married Gloria Reese August 5, 1945. They had two daughters;

• Holly May, born March 26, 1949, married to Bruce James Albe June 5, 1982 in Naples, FL, she died December 1, 2023.
• Wendy Kay, born April 8, 1952

He served in the U S Navy during WW2. I think boot camp training at Great Lakes Training Center on Lake Michigan north of Chicago. Later at Farragut, ID and other places.
He served at the United States Naval Air Station located in Norfolk, VA where aircraft were practicing out over the Atlantic Ocean.
Upon his discharge from the Navy, he was reemployed by Woodward Governor as a machinist. I found it interesting that their machine shop employees were required to wear a bowtie and dress shirt with a shop coat over them. While working there he was able to engage in educational courses and then became employed in the engineering design office. He spent some time at a Rolls Royce aircraft engine location in England and worked with GE in Lynn, MA.
At the time of his retirement he had been head of the engineering department for several years. He retired from Woodward Governor after 45 years as an engineer who designed fuel controls for jet engines.
After Russell retired, they moved to Naples in 1986, and recently spent summers at their cabin in Cherry Log, Ga.

Obituary

Naples Daily News, Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Russell Ralston, of Naples, formerly of Rockford, IL, passed away on February 3, 2011.

He was born in Roscoe, Illinois on May 16, 1924 to Kenneth and Evelyn Ralston.

He retired from Woodward Governor after 45 years as an engineer who designed fuel controls for jet engines.

• Russell was very active in his community, belonging to;
• the Collier County Genealogical Society,
• the New England Historic Genealogical Society,
• the Collier County Computer Club,
• the Bonita Springs Elks Club,
• the American Legion Post 135,
• founding member and past president of the Quail Run Golf Club,
• Scottish Rites of Freeport, IL,
• Tebala Temple of Rockford, IL, and a
• lifetime member of the Roscoe Masonic Lodge #75 in Roscoe, IL, where he earned a Master Mason Degree in 1956.
• Russell also volunteered at the Teddy Bear museum in Naples and published their monthly newsletter.

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Russell is survived by his wife, Nancy Cosman Ralston; daughters, Holly (Bruce) Albe of Coral Springs, FL and Wendy (Mark) Osberg of Presque Isle, WI; step daughters Cheryl Davis of Bonita Springs, FL and Jill (Terry) Herz of Greenfield, TN; brothers Laurence (Hazel) Ralston of Roscoe, IL, Harold (Mary) Ralston of Racine, WI, David (Margie) Ralston of Fairfax, VA, and Duane (Deanna) Ralston of Bloomfield Hills, MI; sister Mary Jane Alexander of Rockford, IL; grandchildren, Eric (Stephanie) Osberg, Ken (Chris) Osberg, Brian Albe and Geoffrey Albe; great grandchildren, Nathan and Ryan; four step grandchildren; two step great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Russell was preceded in death by his first wife Gloria in 2002.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 11:30 a.m., at Fuller Funeral Home, 1625 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The American Heart Association, 28441 Bonita Crossings Blvd., Bonita Springs, FL 34135.

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