Obit of Abraham, Alice Ristine - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Submitted by: Gene Phillips <okarchives@comcast.net> 4 Dec 2004
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Abraham, Alice Ristine
Alice Ristine Abraham died at home September 10 from congestive heart
failure and cancer. She was born on June 10, 1911 in Port Angeles, WA to
George and Edith Ristine. Alice received her RN degree in 1934 from the
Columbus Hospital School of Nursing in Seattle. She practiced in Port
Angeles and Ypsilanti, MI before being commissioned in WWII as a Second
Lieutenant in the US Army in June 1941. She had several stateside postings
and was promoted to Captain before being certified as a Flight Nurse at
Bowman Field, KY in August 1943. She was deployed to the Southwest Pacific
Theater of Operations as Chief Nurse of the 820th Medical Air Evacuation
Squadron with the 5th Air Force where she accumulated 400 flight hours
flying from bases in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines. Alice
received the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon with 4 Battle Stars,
the American Defense Service Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal
before being honorably discharged from the service in December 1945. She
met her husband, Colonel Robert Abraham, US Army (Ret), at Camp Wheeler,
GA. They married in November 1943 in Chesterfield, SC and she soon after
deployed to the South Pacific and he to the European Theater of the war.
After her discharge from the Army, Alice accompanied her husband and two
children to postings in Germany, New Mexico, Georgia, Puerto Rico, North
Carolina and Oklahoma, where they made their final home in Bethany. Alice
raised her children before returning to nursing from 1966 to 1973 on the
Obstetrics and Gynecology Ward at St. Anthony Hospital. She retired and
then spent the next 15 years caring first for her mother and then her
husband's aunt in the family home in Bethany. Alice enjoyed sewing,
quilting and organic gardening and especially loved sharing the bounties
of her flower and vegetable gardens with her neighbors and friends.
Although gardening was her passion, she also enjoyed reading and watching
political and educational programs, and was most knowledgeable of and
conversant in many subjects. She was an animal lover, never turning away
the many strays that found their way to her various doorsteps throughout
her life. Alice was also an accomplished pianist who gave lessons to the
children of several friends in Puerto Rico and North Carolina. She also
served as an assistant Girl Scout Troop Leader while in Puerto Rico. Most
importantly, she was a gracious, compassionate and dignified lady and a
much beloved friend to many, never judgmental and ever accepting of
everyone, regardless of their station in life. Besides being survived by
her husband of 59 years, she leaves behind her daughter, Deborah Abraham
and son-in-law, Robert William Gawel of Colleyville, TX. She was preceded
in death by her son, Robert R. Abraham, US Navy (Ret), in 1992. She is
also survived by cousins Thomas Haig, Black Earth, WI; R. Bruce Haig, Half
Moon Bay, CA; and Jane Sylvester and Joan Nicely of Widby Island, WA. The
family extends their grateful appreciation to the staff of 3-N at
Deaconess Hospital and Hospice of Oklahoma County for the care given Alice
in her final weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
Hospice, UNICEF or animal charity of your choice. Respects may be paid to
Alice at a memorialtribute at Guardian West on Friday and Saturday,
September 13 and 14, 8 AM to 5 PM. Private services and interment will be
held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery where her son is also
buried. GUARDIAN WEST 41 & N. MacArthur 495-9292
Published in the Oklahoman from 9/11/2002 - 9/13/2002.
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