Ralph E. (“Rags”) Ragland

Ralph E. Ragland (Colonel, USAF, Retired) passed away peacefully at home, March 26, 2023, in Hurst, Texas, at the age of 88. He was surrounded by family and his loving wife of 67 years, Anna Sumner Ragland.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Marilyn (Bob) Jacobsen and their son Bobby, and his son-in-law Frederick “Bubba” Klemcke. He is survived by his beloved Anna; his sisters Carol (John) Buck and Alice (Bob) Bergeron; his children Scott Ragland, Marci (Bubba) Klemcke, Melanie (Mike) McConnell, Stacy (Lee) Ragland; 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren (names listed below) and many nieces and nephews.
Ralph was born February 3, 1935, in Dixon, Illinois, to Oliver “O.C.” and Fairy Stein Ragland. He was the second of four children. His family spent his early years (when he was known as “Bud”) dairy farming in Illinois and Wisconsin. That’s where his incredible innate work ethic became evident and his love of photography began. It’s also where he developed his well-known intense dislike of cold, snow and wind! Upon graduating from Elkhorn (Wisconsin) High School in 1953, he pursued his lifelong dream of learning to fly by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force and being selected as an Air Force Aviation Cadet (Distinguished Graduate – Class 55Q). Here is where he first became known as “Rags”, the name by which he was known the rest of his life. He also met his adored Anna during that period and they were married in Tifton, Georgia, in July 1955.

During his 13 years of active flying in B-47s, B-52s and C-123s, Rags received the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1967. His later assignments included computer programming and his work on the Joint Chiefs of Staff (“JCS 3”) at the Pentagon, which was his final assignment. Especially noteworthy is that he was selected as the Air Force’s liaison pilot to Rockwell International to the B-1 Bomber project in its early stages of planning and design from 1972-1974. He proudly served in the Air Force for more than 26 years, retiring as a Colonel on August 31, 1980.
Having moved 13 times in those 26 years, he and Anna retired to San Antonio and made their home in the same house for nearly 40 years. They spent their retirement years traveling, spoiling their ever-growing number of grand and great-grandchildren, and doting on each other. During this period he delved into entrepreneurialism in several ventures, including work in early home computers when they were run by programs on cassette tapes. (That was just the beginning of his fascination with anything techie.) He also worked with his son Stacy for many years and with his son-in-law Bubba for several years. His strong love of country and patriotism included many years being active in politics by attending meetings, poll-working and canvassing in his neighborhood. Rags and Anna moved to Hurst in 2021, where Anna still lives.

Ralph was loved, respected and very much adored by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren along with many lifelong friends. He was well known for his humility, generous heart, love, and service always to others along with his wit, playful sense of humor, optimism and drive to be always active and productive.

A personal note from his children: Dad had said several times in the last few years that the one thing he wished he could do again was to pilot a plane. The closest we were able get for him was a private tour for him of his favorite aircraft ,a “Texan T-6” aircraft, when he spent a glorious 90 minutes inspecting the aircraft and, of course, swapping stories with the three generous pilots who had arranged it all for him. The closest we could get, that is, until January 26, 2023. With the miracle help of “Captain Rob” and his private plane, Dad took one more flight. Rob insisted that Dad sit in the pilot seat and after they were airborne, he actually turned over the controls to allow Dad to fly it by himself for more than 10 minutes. Getting to see the joy on Dad’s face (before, during and after) is a blessing for which we will forever be grateful.

Dad invited Jesus to be his personal savior in the last part of his life. We know he always loved the song “Amazing Grace” and also the poem “High Flight”. He has now truly “reached out his hand and touched the face of God.”

Memorial service will be June 4th and details are available from his family.
(Condolence messages for the family may be submitted via this site.)
*********************************
Ralph’s and Anna’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren:
Children of Scott and Nancy (his wife at the time)
– Sarah (Michael) Wolf and Zachary & Emily
– Evan (Zoe) Ragland and Charlotte, Josiah, Christopher & Lucy
– Ben (Rachel) Ragland and Vannah & Kai
– Naomi (Ragland) Nash and Zoey, Daisy, Penny & Finn
– Elijah (Melissa) Ragland and “Baby Ragland” coming soon

Children of Marci and Bubba
– Ryan (Haley) Klemcke and Everly, Delaney & Harrison
– Tana (Jason) Trottie and Josiah & Emma
– Corey (Mavis) Klemcke and Maisy
– Kara (Andy) Brandt

Children of Melanie and Mike
– Erin (Spencer Topa) McConnell
– Ian McConnell
– Logan McConnell

Children of Stacy and Lee
– Kristy (Austen) Cabler and Gideon
– Kelsey Ragland