Aron Ralston

Ralston in 2010, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Aron Lee Ralston

Place of Birth: Marion, Ohio, U.S.

Date of Birth: October 27, 1975

Ethnicity: Swedish (maternal grandfather), Dutch, English, German, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh, some French-Canadian and Swiss-German, remote French

Aron Ralston is an American mountaineer, mechanical engineer, and motivational speaker. He survived a canyoneering accident in southeastern Utah in 2003, during which he amputated his own right forearm with a dull pocketknife in order to extricate himself from a dislodged boulder, which had him trapped for five days and seven hours (127 hours). The incident is documented in Aron’s autobiography Between a Rock and a Hard Place, and is the subject of the 2010 film 127 Hours, starring James Franco as Aron.

His family moved to Denver, Colorado during his childhood. He has one child with his former wife Jessica Trusty; and a daughter with his former partner Vita Shannon.

Aron’s paternal grandfather was Pearl Kendall Ralston (the son of Paul Thomas Ralston and Sarah Pauline Kinnear). Pearl was born in Ohio. Paul was the son of Plenny Kendall Ralston and Nellie G. Brelsford. Pauline was the daughter of Franklin N. Kinnear and Anna Virginia Fults.

Aron’s paternal grandmother was Marjorie Lou Osbun (the daughter of Ivan Verle Osbun and Helen Gertrude Smith). Marjorie was born in Ohio. Ivan was the son of Nathaniel J. Osbun and Minnie Alice Oburn. Helen was the daughter of Earl Smith and Elizabeth “Lizzie/Lizzy” Jordan.

Aron’s maternal grandfather was Karl Gustaf Henry Anderson (the son of Carl Oscar Harry Andersson, later Anderson, and of Anna Petronella Andersdotter, later Anna Pearl Anderson). Aron’s grandfather Karl was born in Trafford, Pennsylvania, to Swedish parents. Aron’s great-grandfather Carl was born in Vessige, Halland County, the son of Anders Johan Petersson and Anna Lovisa Bengtsdotter/Bengtson. Aron’s great-grandmother Anna Anderson was born in Asige, Halland County, the daughter of Anders Peter Nilsson and Anna Beata Svensdotter.

Aron’s maternal grandmother was Grace Louise Beckley (the daughter of John Ross Beckley and Bertha Leona Buxton). Grace was born in Carrollton, Ohio. John was the son of John Hiram Beckley and Rebecca Jane Brooks. Bertha was the daughter of Presley R. Buxton and Florence Rebecca Nixon.

Sources: Genealogies of Aron’s maternal grandparents, Karl Gustaf Henry Anderson and Grace Louise (Beckley) Anderson – https://www.findagrave.com

Obituary of Aron’s maternal grandmother, Grace Louise (Beckley) Anderson – http://www.legacy.com