John P. Ragsdale

Funeral service for Reverend John P. Ragsdale will be held 2 pm Monday, July 20, 2009 at Jennings Chapel Congregational Methodist Church in Marthaville, LA. Interment will follow in Bethany Cemetery at Marthaville, La. Visitation will be Sunday, July 19, 2009 from 5 pm until 9 pm at Blanchard St. Denis and again on Monday, July 20, 2009 from 1 pm until service time at the church. Reverend Ragsdale, 83, passed away Saturday, July 18, 2009 in Frisco, Texas. He was born October 25, 1925 in Tecumseh, AL. He was a lifelong minister of the Congregational Methodist Church serving as a pastor to many churches across the south and in the capacity of an evangelist for many years. Especially notable was his mission work in Arizona for Native Americans. He served as president of Westminster College and the director of Home Missions for the denomination. He served his country in the United States Navy during World War II in the south pacific theatre. He will be dearly missed by his family and the many close friends he’s made throughout the years. He is survived by two daughters, Connie Ragsdale Whelan and husband Michael of Greenwood, MS and Helen Ragsdale Hare of Mobile, AL; two sons, Ronald L. Ragsdale and wife Mynetta of Frisco, TX. and Jonathan Ragsdale and wife Suzanne of North Richland Hills, TX; grandchildren, Valerie Hare Eddingfield, Dana Hare Nobles, Skyler Glen Hare, Joshua Patrick Whelan, Jacob Ragsdale Whelan, Jennings Kathryn Whelan, John Nathan Ragsdale, Blake Alan Ragsdale, Amanda Cherie Kerce, Ryan Hunter Ragsdale, and William Alexander Paulsen; great grandchildren, Sarah Carter Mackinnley Hare, Ella-Grace Nobles, Jonathan Lawrence Elsworth Eddingfield. He was preceded in death by his wife Marline Jennings Ragsdale; parents, Elijah Ragsdale and Maude Arrington Ragsdale; two brothers and three sisters. Pallbearers will be Joshua Patrick Whelan, Jacob Ragsdale Whelan, John Nathan Ragsdale, Blake Alan Ragsdale, Ryan Hunter Ragsdale, and William Alexander Paulsen. Honorary Pallbearer will be Skyler Glenn Hare, Michael Steven Kerce, Thomas McCay Luster III, and Christopher Kenneth Nobles