Dona Mae Darbe

Dona Mae Ralston was born in Avard, Oklahoma, to Harry James Ralston and Vina Marie (Link) Ralston. She was the third of six children.

Dona grew up during the Depression. She experienced the dust storms of the 1930s. She knew a small-town life where all the streets were dirt. The phones were attached by wire to a switchboard in someone's house. The town's kids would occasionally organize a parade down the main street. As a child, she would walk three miles north of town to her grandma's farm to do chores and visit her. She won awards for church attendance and flawless penmanship.

Dona graduated from Avard High School in 1948 and began working as a telephone operator in Alva, Oklahoma. In 1951, she married William J Darbe. They had a son, Kim, born in Denver, Colorado, in 1952, a son, Kirby, born in Guthrie, Oklahoma, in 1953, a son, Kevin, born in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, in 1955, and a daughter, Karma, born in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, in 1956. In 1973, Dona opened the Avard Café in the same building where she and her siblings were born and lived while growing up.

Dona is preceded in death by the following: her dad, Harry; her mom, Marie; her husband, William; a son, Kirby Don Darbe; a daughter, Karma Lu Barker (Jesse), and a grandson, Jesse Leon Barker. She is also preceded in death by her brothers, James Ralston, Nelson Ralston, and Nolan Ralston, and also preceded in death by her sisters, Ramona Wheatley and Gloria Jones.

Dona is survived by a brother, Norman "Chic" Ralston of Amarillo, Texas, a son, Kim Darbe (June) of Guthrie, Oklahoma, and a son, Kevin Darbe (Lisa) of Edmond, Oklahoma. Her grandchildren, William Darbe, Robert Darbe (Beth), Danielle Connor (Billy), Kirby Darbe (Rachel), Cody Darbe (Jess), Brianne Reed (Brandon), John Barker (Carlynn), Shanna Archibald (Peter), Jacob Barker (Tiffany), Justin Barker (Dakota), Dona is also survived by numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Dona Mae was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and human being. She is missed.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, October 30, 2025 at First Assembly of God Church with Rev. Jeff Ralston officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Memorial Park Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, 220 North 1st St., Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.smithgallo.com.

Memorial donations may be made in Dona's name to either The Hands Of Jesus Foodbank, 2403 West Noble Avenue, Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044 or to God's Food Bank, P.O. Box 114, Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044.