Joseph Robert Ralston

Joseph Robert Ralston of Lawrence died November 6 after a long illness. He was born in Eugene, Oregon June 26, 1980 to John Peter and Cherie Wagner Ralston. He lived with his family in Eugene, Montreal, Downer’s Grove, Ill, Orsay, France and Lawrence. He graduated from Lawrence High School in June 1999, then attended the University of Kansas for one year. He worked in retail sales positions in Lawrence and in sales management positions in Minneapolis from 2002 to 2006. Ralston was married from 2008-2012 while working in Wichita and Lawrence. Ralston returned to Kansas University in 2011 and in 2014 graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design. He served on the Board of Directors of the Lawrence Social Service League in 1999 and from 2007-2008. Ralston conceived and fabricated many original lighting designs, and his senior thesis project was featured in the IDSA Mid-West District Design Conference, Chicago. He is survived by his parents, and by his siblings Amy Cherie Ralston and John Charles Ralston. The family requests no flowers. If desired, donations may be sent to the Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE).