Margaret A. Ralis

Margaret “Peggy” Ralis was born in Moscow, Pennsylvania on April 13, 1936. She grew up enjoying the life of a farm girl in the foothills of the Poconos. She met her husband, Joseph F. Ralis, at the Polka Club in Scranton and in July of 1966, they married. Peggy was a loving and devoted wife, mother and homemaker, known for her love of ceramics, flowers, Word Finds, baking and her collection of knick-knacks. She made everyone with whom she came in contact always feel welcomed and loved. She was a devoted Catholic who never missed Mass and participated in many different women’s groups at church. Peggy raised two wonderful children, Stephen and Deborah, whom she dedicated all of her time and energy towards. She enjoyed traveling and spending time with family and friends. When the children were young, the family moved to Germany where she fell in love with “Volksmarching” and proceeded to walk her way through every city, region and countryside, searching for the perfect wine. Once the children got a little older, Peggy began working in banking and sales at the local military base, helping to provide for the family, but first and foremost, to support her love of shopping. Once she and Joe became empty nesters, they spent seven more wonderful years together traveling to the beach, enjoying the fruits of their labor in the garden and loving their miniature schnauzers. In 1995, Peggy endured Joe’s passing from cancer and moved to Chicago to be with Stephen and his fiancée, Sharri. Several years later, Peggy moved to Manassas, Virginia where she was able to spend quality time with Deborah. She quickly became involved at the Senior Center, participating in workout classes, attending many “Red Hats” events, church outings and of course, enjoying a little friendly competition over a BINGO card. When she finally needed a little more assistance and was searching for a warmer climate, Peggy relocated to Fort Walton Beach, Florida. While living at Hawthorne House, she enjoyed dancing with Airmen and young NCO’s from Eglin Air Force Base whenever they would visit. She resumed her love for Red Hats events and enjoyed the weekly group trips to Target, the beach and the shopping mall, but most importantly, she was never late for her weekly hair and nail salon appointments. After all, she had to look good for the NCO’s that might pay her an unexpected visit. Peggy lived out her final years in Florida, always looking forward to visits from her children and grandchildren, Stephen, Jimmy and Matthew, enjoying shows, dining out and spending time at the beach together. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Peggy’s assisted living facility, the Hawthorn House, in Shalimar, Florida, part of the Bob Hope Air Force Enlisted Village retirement community. Unlike many military facilities who serve officers and their spouses, Hawthorn House is the only facility designed to meet the needs of enlisted officers’ surviving spouses. Words cannot express our gratitude to every staff member at Hawthorn House who loved and cared for Peggy using the Mom Rule: "Would I do this to my mom? Would I do this for my mom? Would my mom approve?” https://give.afev.us/give/198586/#!/donation/checkout