Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
September 13, 2002, pg 82
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
memorial tribute 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.
Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
March 11, 2004; Section: Nation, Page: 11A
Oklahoma City
ABRAHAM, Robert, 89, retired from Army, died
Wednesday. Services May 6, Arlington National
Cemetery, Arlington, Va. (Guardian West).
