Mrs. Theo Pearl (Bakes) Ralston, age 103, of Ryker's Ridge in Madison, Indiana, formerly of Scott's Ridge in Jefferson County, Indiana, entered this life on April 1, 1912, at the Bakes residence in Jacksonville, Indiana, the loving daughter of the late, Charles Albert and Mable Vivian (Hall) Bakes. She was raised in Jacksonville, Indiana and was a 1929 graduate of Vevay High School. At the young age of 19, Theo started teaching after two years at Ball State. In 1932, Theo taught her first two years in the same school where she attended her first two years, a one-room school house in Center Square in Switzerland County. Theo was united in marriage on June 24, 1933, in Jacksonville, Indiana to the late, David Thomas "Tommy" Ralston. They lived most of their married life on their farm on Scott's Ridge in Jefferson County near Pleasant. This happy union was blessed with three children, Peggy Ann, Nancy Lou and Charles Edward. After Theo was married she taught from 1935 to 1936 at Big Brushy Fork in Jefferson County. Theo taught at Canaan in 1937 to 1938 then began to raise her family and did not teach again until her son Ed was in the first grade 1950 to 1951. That year Theo taught 4th, 5th and 6th grades at Cross Plains. When Theo started teaching in 1951 at Canaan School, she was to be the geography teacher for grades 4-5-6-7-8. She also helped with reading and some spelling in grades 1 and 2. After teaching her first two years she received a life license, but in order to keep teaching she took summer workshops at Butler University and extension classes at Madison and Versailles until she got required hours for what was called an equivalency of a Bachelor's Degree in Education. Theo retired in 1976, after 30 years of dedication in teaching. Two of those years in Switzerland County, one of them in Ripley County and 27 years in Jefferson County. The last 26 years of her educational career was spent at the Canaan School, just a few miles across the Switzerland County line in Jefferson County. Theo and Tommy shared 52 loving years of marriage together until he passed away on May 2, 1985. After the passing of her husband, Theo moved to Ryker's Ridge where she had resided for the past 31 years. Theo was a member of the Hope Rebekah Lodge #851 in Bennington, Indiana, Bells of Saint Mary's Homemakers and the Centralion Homemakers Club and the Red Hat's Society. She attended the Senior Citizen Center in Madison, Indiana for many years. She was also a member of the Retired Teacher's Association of both Switzerland and Jefferson Counties. She was a former member of the Brushy Fork Baptist Church in Pleasant, Indiana where she taught Sunday School and was a member of the Ryker's Ridge Baptist Church in Madison, Indiana. Theo enjoyed singing in the choir at the Brushy Fork Baptist Church and at the Ryker's Ridge Baptist Church. At family gatherings, Theo enjoyed getting everyone together and harmonizing and singing old hymns. On Saturday nights, Theo enjoyed playing Euchre with her friends and family. She and her partner, Jessie were notorious for being the winners! She loved writing poems for special occasions such as, birthdays, graduations, Mother's Day and Father's Day. She also enjoyed making small quilted items for her friends and family. Theo enjoyed refinishing antique furniture, gardening, reading her Bible, word search puzzles, solitaire and ICE CREAM! Theo was lovingly cared for by her devoted daughters and sons-in-law making sure all her needs were met which allowed her to live comfortably in her own home. For the 103 years Theo lived on this earth, she served us lemon desserts from our birth. We will miss her alto at the next birthday party, but now she is singing with the Heavenly Choir. The cards will be shuffled, then passed 'round, the ultimate game of Euchre will have finally been found. Theo will be dearly missed by her loving family and friends. Theo passed away with her loving family by her side at 3:15 pm, Sunday, March 13, 2016, at her residence on Ryker's Ridge in Madison, Indiana.

Theo will be dearly missed by her children: Peggy Ann Hord & her husband: William of Madison, IN, Nancy Lou Stephan & her husband: Monty of Madison, IN & Charles Edward "Ed" Ralston & his companion: Sharon of Sand Lakes, MI; her grandchildren: Lynn (Hord) Todd & her husband: John of Madison, IN, Nathalie Stephan of Madison, IN, Luann (Hord) Nay of Madison, IN, Lisa (Stephan) Halleen of Palatine, IL, Carol (Hord) Lee & her husband: Mark of Canaan, IN, Jeff Ralston of Holland, MI, Jill (Ralston) Beekman & her husband: Mark of West Olive, MI; her great-grandchildren: Benjamin Lee & his wife: Margaret, Matthew Todd & his wife: Hannah, Samantha (Lee) Johnson & her husband: Brice, Joseph Todd & his wife: Laura, Jessica Lee & her fiancé: Mark Fleming, Kayla Nay, Laura Nay & her fiancé: Joshua Reagan, Ty Ralston, Jacob Halleen, Mitchell Beekman & Andrew Beekman; her great-great-grandchildren: Graeme Henry Lee & Harper Elizabeth Todd & her several nieces & nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Charles Albert Bakes, died September 14, 1977 & Mable Vivian (Hall) Bakes, died January 30, 1966; her loving husband: David Thomas "Tommy" Ralston, died May 2, 1985; her brother: Hal Hall Bakes & one infant-brother; her sisters: Martha Alice Hamilton Liggett, Charlene Baird & Patricia J. "Patty" Works.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday, March 18, 2016, at 10:00 am, by Pastor Kevin Crouch, at the Ryker's Ridge Baptist Church, 2601 North Ryker's Ridge Road Madison, Indiana 47250.

Interment will follow in the Caledonia Cemetery, near Moorefield, Indiana.

Friends may call 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Thursday, March 17, 2016, at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre 325 Demaree Drive Madison, Indiana 47250 & from 9:00 am until time of service at the Ryker's Ridge Baptist Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ryker's Ridge Baptist Church or to the Brushy Fork Baptist Church. Cards are available at the funeral homes.

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