Mr. Howard Clifton Ralston, age 82 of Dalton, Georgia, departed this life Thursday, November 3, 2022, at his home surrounded by his loving family.  Howard was born July 11, 1940, in Blue Ridge, Georgia, a son of the late Howard Wayne and D. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Weaver Ralston.  He was also preceded in death by his brother, Loyd Joseph Ralston, infant sisters, Joyce and Joan Ralston, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Melvin R. and Vena Jane Evans Sales.

Howard was a 1958 graduate of Gilmer County High School and worked in the textile industry as a Dye Technician and was retired from Fibro Chem.

He is survived by his loving wife, Ruth Ann Sales Ralston of the home and would have celebrated their sixty-first wedding anniversary on December 23, 2022; son and daughter-in-law, Ricky and Lora Ralston of Varnell, GA; daughters and son-in-law, Karen and Tony Bearden of Rocky Face, GA, Kaye Ralston of Dalton, GA; grandchildren, Jordan Ralston, Shelby and Michael Rawlings, Tristan Ralston, Matthew and Lauren Bearden, Kayla Bearden, and Kammi Acree; great-grandchildren, Myles Bearden, Bella Norman, Luke Norman, and Bentlei Grissom; sister, Carol Ralston West of Ellijay, GA; sister-in-law, Barbara Ralston of Dalton, GA; aunts, Esther Ralston Hefner of Athens, GA, and Shirley Ralston Ellis of Homer, GA; several nieces and nephews.

Services to celebrate the life of Mr. Howard Clifton Ralston will be held Saturday, November 5, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. at Ponders Melrose Chapel with Reverend Clifford Chambers officiating.  He will be laid to rest at Ponders Colonial Hills Memorial Park and Mausoleum with Sam West, Logan Ralston, Doug Ralston, Alan Ridley, Lail Sales and Evan Sales honored to serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends at Ponders Melrose Chapel after 2:00 p.m. until the service hour.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.pondersfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by, Ponders Melrose Chapel 138 Melrose Drive Dalton, GA 30721, 706-226-4002
www.selectedindependentfuneralhomes.org and www.ogr.org