Herbert W. "Win" Ralston, Jr., 83, of Nashua, NH died Friday February 4, 2011 at the Hanover Hill Healthcare Center in Manchester following a period of declining health. Mr. Ralston was born in Londonderry, NH on March 28, 1927, son of the late Herbert W. and Vera (Pillsbury) Ralston. He had resided in Nashua, NH for the past 25 years, formerly living in Londonderry for many years. He was active on the high school swim team while living in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. After moving back to Londonderry, he graduated from Pinkerton Academy in Derry, NH Class of 1944. Mr. Ralston was a US Navy veteran and served during WWII. He had been employed as a truck driver for St. Johnsbury Trucking in Manchester, and also for Coca Cola and Nashua Motor Express, both of Nashua. He was also the owner and operator of Ralston's Bread Board in Londonderry for 10 years.
Mr. Ralston volunteered for both the Police and Fire Departments while living in Londonderry. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus Bishop John Neumann Council #6949 and the American Legion Post 27, both of Londonderry. He was currently a communicant of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Nashua.
He is survived by his wife, Claire (Simoneau) Ralston, Nashua, six children, Wendy Cabral and her husband Richard of Rye, NH and Jupiter, FL, Diana Gravel and her husband Roger of Manchester, Carol Ralston of Nashua, Deborah Ralston of Manchester, Heidi Ordway and her husband David of Chesapeake, VA, and Kurt Ralston and his wife Renee of Fountain Inn, SC, also three stepchildren, Louise Waugh and her husband Robert vanderHeide of Nashua, Bobbi Jackson and her husband James of Nashua, and Joan Waugh-Crotzer and her husband David of Merrimack, NH, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, also several nieces, nephews and cousins. He also leaves his former wife, Barbara Cross of Florida and NH.
Following cremation, calling hours were held on Tuesday February 8, 2011 from 5 - 7pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. A service of remembrance followed at 7:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday at 10:30am in St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 777 West Hollis St., Nashua. Burial will be in the Spring in Glenwood Cemetery, Londonderry. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the NH Association for the Blind, 25 Walker St., Concord, NH 03301.