TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —
Donna Lee Ralston, 72, of Tallahassee, was relieved of her pain on Nov. 16, 2012, in Tallahassee.
She was born in Franklin on Dec. 1, 1939, to Ruby A. Ralston (formerly Hockman) and Earnest Ralston. She graduated from Franklin Area High School in 1956 and resided in various locations in Venango and Crawford counties until relocating to Tallahassee in 1981.
Donna leaves behind her mother, Ruby A. Ralston of Saegertown; three sons, Robert (Becky) Deets of Stoneboro, Brian (Barbara) Deets of Crossville, Tenn., and Christopher Deets of Cleveland; a daughter, Susan (Judith) Bienvenu, of Silver Spring, Md.; three sisters, Barbara A. Exley of Oil City, Darla S. Heckman of Meadville, and Mary K. Carwile of Gladys, Va.; one brother, Lewis E. Ralston of Utica; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchldren.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, her father, Ernest Ralston, and a brother John F. Ralston.
Her marriages to Francis J. Deets and Clarence P. Horner ended in divorce.
Donna worked at several jobs in Pennsylvania including at the Viscose yarn factory and, early in her life, at Talon Industries. Her last 23 working years in Florida were spent at Wal-Mart, a job that she thoroughly enjoyed, holding positions in the pharmacy, the bakery, as a door greeter and in stationery. She was still actively employed at the store when she passed.
Many of her friends did not know that she followed NASCAR, and Jimmy Johnson was her favorite driver. Her other interests included quilting and all things sewing. Many women in Tallahassee now carry a purse created by Donna. She also created countless children’s quilts for the Children’s Miracle Network.
A funeral is not planned. A celebration of her life will be held at the Lyona Bible Church in Guys Mills at 2 p.m. on Saturday, which would have been her 73rd birthday. Interment will be at the Lyona Cemetery in the family plot.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Big Bend Hospice House, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, Fla. 32308.
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