Mr. William Rudolph Ralston, age 98, of Carrollton, died Monday, April 14, 2025, at Carrollton Nursing Home.

William Rudolph Ralston was born on September 23, 1926 in Gainesville, GA. He loved playing guitar until age prevented him from moving his fingers. He was a long-time member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church and sang in the choir until Covid. He served in WWII in the U.S. Army in the liberation of the Philippines and then the occupation of Korea. After the war, he enrolled at West Georgia College and met his wife of 73 years, Ann Arnett. He worked at Sears Roebuck in Atlanta and Alabama for 20 years and then moved back to Carrollton and bought and ran an Amoco gas station on Maple Street and then on Newnan Road, where he was known as "Mr. Rudy". Later he worked and retired from Southwire and then worked at Burson's Hardware until Covid.

He is preceded in death by his parents Rev. Estes Homer and Bertha Burtz Ralston, a sister, Mary Juanita Greathouse and brother-in-law, Sheriff Merrill Greathouse, a brother Eugene Howard Ralston; and a brother-in-law, Robert "Bob" Alfonso.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Arnett Ralston; two sons, James Arnett Ralston of Carrollton and Marion Richard Ralston of Meansville; two sisters, Mary Sue Alfonso and Rosa Elizabeth (Richard) Beohm; and brother Wilburn Levi (Shirley) Ralston; sister-in-law, Jean Ralston; grandchildren Marian Adriana (Joseph) Sandefur and Milagro Anastasha Ralston; two grandsons, Alexander Rhys Ralston and Bryson Ty Sandefur.

During WW2, Rudolph was on leave at home but time came for him to report to Camp Meade, Maryland. His father said I'll walk with you to the station. So we walked along and got on the train. When the train pulled out, Daddy stayed on. He said, 'You have to change from the Terminal Station to the Union Station in Atlanta and you have a tight schedule. I know a shortcut across tracks from one station to another and I'll just go with you to make sure you get on the other train. When we got to Atlanta, this was a 70 mile ride on a slow train. Daddy walked with me and got on the other train with me at Union Station. He said, 'I got some friends in Gainesville that I haven't seen in a while and I think I will just ride on up there and make a call on some of my friends up there'. So we ride another 50 miles up the railroad.

We get to Gainesville, Georgia and Daddy says, 'You know I pastored a church in Toccoa, so I think I will ride up there with you'. I said, 'Daddy this is getting hard on me. Mama has no idea where you are and the more you ride with me the harder it's going to be to say goodbye'. He said, 'Son I just want you to know that if I could go for you I would'. I said, 'I know you would Daddy'. He got off and it was a mighty lonesome ride up there.

Today Rudolph may have started a new journey alone but he knows that at the next station his Daddy will be waiting for him to complete that 'train ride' to their final destination.

At his request, there will be no memorial service. Inurnment will be a private ceremony at Oak Hill Cemetery in Newnan, GA.

Messages of condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com

Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton has charge of arrangements.