Billy Gene Ragle, Sr.

Billy Gene Ragle Sr., 87, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, January 11, 2018, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Billy was born April 14, 1930, in McCurtain, Oklahoma to John D. and Delia Gladys (Bolan) Ragle. Billy grew up in Lequire, Oklahoma before moving with his parents to California in the early 1940s. On February 5, 1948, Billy joined the United State Air Force. He remained active until he was honorably discharged on February 4, 1952. Billy returned to Oklahoma and accepted employment at a local plant nursery in Stigler, Oklahoma. Billy later moved to Tulsa gaining a position with Douglas Aircraft Company. On May 8, 1954, Billy united in marriage to the love of his life, Ruby Geraldine (Pugh) Ragle. Following their marriage the couple established their home in Tulsa. In 1968, Billy and Geraldine moved to Mannford, Oklahoma where they raised their children, Billy Jr. and Valerie. Billy worked for many years as a barber in Tulsa and Mannford. Billy then began working for Allen Edwards Inc. making parts for the pipeline industry. Billy worked for a short time at National Tank before accepting the position as a water operator for Creek County Rural Water District #5. Following his retirement from Creek County, Billy began driving a school bus for Olive Public Schools. Billy and Geraldine remained in the Mannford area for over 44 years until the grassfires destroyed their home in 2012. At that time Billy and Geraldine moved to the Baptist Village in Cleveland, Oklahoma where they have continued to reside.

Billy loved being outdoors always planting a large garden that he enjoyed working in. His greatest joys were being a papa to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Billy has been a longtime member of the Lake Area Freewill Baptist Church in Cleveland.

Billy is survived by his wife of 63 years, Geraldine of the home; two children Billy Gene Ragle Jr. and his wife Deanna of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Valerie Denise Vaughan and her husband Mike of Cleveland, Oklahoma; seven grandchildren Amanda Bartley and her husband Jason, Andrea Landsaw and her husband Daniel, April Goad and her husband Cody, Patrick Vaughan, Brooke Malloy and her husband Dustin, Lexie Hennigh, Rusty Hennigh and his wife Dakota; eleven great-grandchildren, Tanner, Hunter and Aidan Bartley, Cooper and Elijah Landsaw, Ainsley Goad, Remington Malloy, Olivia, Jacelyn, Addsion and Denver Hennigh and a host of other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, Billy was preceded in death by one brother Arthur Ragle and one sister Betty Underwood.

Services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 15, 2018, at First Baptist Church in Cleveland, Oklahoma with Rev. Joe Conn and Rev. Dan Doss officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Jason Bartley, Daniel Landsaw, Cody Goad, Tanner Bartley, Hunter Bartley, and Dustin Malloy. Honorary Pallbearers are Al Wheeler, Rusty Hennigh, Mike Pugh and Doug Pugh. Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Mannford under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Friends may share a memory with the family online at www.chapman-black.com.

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