Gene Duain Ralston

The fourth child of Winfield S. H. Ralston and Flossie Delpha Owens Ralston, Gene was born on a farm west of the city of Binger, in Caddo County, Oklahoma February 16, 1933. He grew up with the family of seven in a two-room house through the great depression and World War II.

On January 10, 1952 Gene enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he spent thirty productive years. On May 31, 1953 he was united in marriage with his sweetheart, Ora Carolyn Shanklin. To their union was born three daughters, Carol Jean, Teresa Rae and Vicki Lynn, and one son, Alan Scott.

During the thirty-year Navy career, Gene and Carolyn lived in Kingsville, TX; Honolulu, HI; Norman, OK; Millington, TN; Oak Harbor, WN; Lemoore, CA; Monterey, CA; South Finegayan, Guam and Alexandria, VA.

Following his retirement from the Navy, Gene and Carolyn opened and operated Uncle Gene’s Lock Shop in Lemoore for 8 ½ years. They then went into full-time Christian service, first in Tulsa, OK and then in Woodlake, CA. After a short “second” retirement at age 65, Gene worked as a Realtor for three years, then as a Detention Specialist with the Kings County Sheriff’s Department, and as an accountant for various Kings and Tulare County businesses.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister, leaving him the sole surviving member of his family.

The Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, July 25, 2021 at 3:00 pm at South Valley Community Church in Lemoore with the Graveside Service taking place on Monday, July 26, 2021 at 2:30 pm at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that monetary donations be made in Gene’s name to the South Valley Community Church of Lemoore.