Elvira Mae Ralston

Elvira Mae Ralston passed from this life on June 12, 2024, at her home in Cushing, Oklahoma, at the age of 91. Her care has been entrusted to Palmer Marler Funeral Home in Cushing.

Elvira was born to Ollie & Flosie (Meyers) Stoddard on May 26, 1933, in Seiling, Oklahoma. At 2 years old, Elvira’s family moved to Cedaredge, Colorado. She went to school at Hotchkiss.

When Elvira was 15, they moved back to Oklahoma. She lived with her Uncle Cecil and Aunt Norma Meyers of Chandler where she met the love of her life, Bob, who lived in California. They dated for a couple of weeks while he was in Oklahoma for a visit. They wrote to each other for 6 weeks. Then Elvira and her girlfriend took the bus to California to go see Bob. They stopped in Southern California, to pick cotton for a few days before going to Tulare where Bob lived. She was there for a few weeks before deciding to marry.

On July 30, 1951, in Tulare, California, they were married. To this union, Van and Anita were born. Bob and Elvira shared 67 loving years together. After 8 months of marriage, Bob was drafted into the U.S. Army. Elvira returned to Oklahoma and waited for her husband to return from the war. During that time, she got a job with Brownlee’s Grocery Store in Cushing from March 1952 to December 1953. When Bob came home from the war they made their home in Agra, Oklahoma. After getting reacquainted again, they built a new home in Agra. Bob went to work at Hughes Lumber and Elvira started working at Escott’s Grocery Store. While working at Escott’s in the meat department, she was involved in an accident and lost her lower arm and hand in one of the machines.

Elvira was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Elvira is survived by her daughter Anita Toland and daughter-in-law Jeannie Ralston; grandchildren, Tyler Toland & wife Monica, Sierra Toland & partner Steve Kim, Cassidy Rowell, Brandy Malt & husband Rob, Montana Ralston & wife Robin; great grandchildren, Avonlea, Ottman, Zahn, Aiden, Layla, Brayden, Michael & Zach and numerous other relatives.

Elvira is preceded in death by her husband; son, Van; parents; and siblings, Elmer & Leona Stoddard and Nina Burton.

Graveside services for Elvira will at 1pm on Thursday, June 13 at Parkland Cemetery.