Letitia Palmer Mandle (Tish) Ralstin

Ralstin, Letitia (Tish) Palmer Mandle, age 87, passed away at Larksfield Place in Wichita on Wednesday, October 10. She was surrounded by family. Born Letitia Milburn Palmer on March 13, 1925 in Kingman, Kansas to Adna and Louisa Palmer, Tish spent her childhood in Kingman where her family owned and published the Kingman Leader-Courier newspaper. The family moved to Wichita in 1939 and Tish attended Roosevelt Junior High School. She also attended East High School where she was the lead band majorette and an honor society member. She graduated in 1943. Enrolling at Wichita University that same year, she was member of Sorosis sorority and became president of the organization her senior year. She was also a member of student council, the YWCA, Student Forum, a homecoming queen candidate, member and eventual president of Canterbury Club and member and president of Wheaties. She graduated in 1947 with an undergraduate degree in English. She and first husband, William Dale Mandle, met after his return from WWII service with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division and married in 1947. Mr. Mandle was wounded in the war and died as the result of those injuries in 1962. A widow, she raised three children ages 9, 12 and 14, returned to school and earned undergraduate and Masters degrees in education. She taught in the Wichita School System, entered continuing education through the University of Arizona, and eventually became a Program Assistant for the federally funded Follow Through Program. Mrs. Mandle met Bob Ralstin, a speech pathologist with the Wichita Public School Syestem, in and they were married in 1974, living and entertaining in their beautiful College Hill home for more than 35 years. The Ralstins moved to Larksfield Place in 2011 and are members of St. James Episcopal Church. Tish was a member of PEO, Domesticats, University Club, loved family and friends, possessed a great sense of humor, had time for everyone, reached out to those less fortunate and adored her loving husband who survives her. Other survivors include five children, Steve Mandle (Barbara), Dallas, Texas; Shannon Mandle, Manhattan, Kansas; Kim Mandle (Terry), Lawrence, Kansas, Charlie Ralstin, Wichita, Kansas; and Carolyn Fettore, Wichita, Kansas; seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials have been established through the St. James Episcopal Church After School Program. Services for Mrs. Ralstin will be held at 10:00 A.M., Monday, October 15, 2012 at St. James Episcopal Church. Downing Lahey Mortuary East.