Ronald Dean Ragan, age 75, of New Castle, entered his heavenly home on Sunday, March 21st., in his home surrounded by his wife and loved ones after a year-long courageous battle with cancer. He was born on December 18, 1945 in Albany, Kentucky to Oscar and Gladys (Owens) Ragan, moving to New Castle in 1948 where he resided.
He graduated in 1964 from Walter P. Chrysler Memorial High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Donna Gae (Smithers) on June 11th., 1966 and would have celebrated 55 years of marriage this year! He worked at the Chrysler Automotive Plant for 38 years, retiring in 2001. He also worked for Bell Vending for nine years. He served two years in the United States Army, taking his training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and then on to Istanbul, Turkey for 18 months. He was a John Wayne enthusiast and loved to watch the black and white gritt movie channel. He loved sports with his favorite baseball team being the Cincinnati Reds and Dallas Cowboys Football (also, rooting for the Colts.) He coached and umpired Little League and Minor League for over 30 years. He enjoyed bowling where he bowled actively on the Tuesday night (5 pin league to which was named for him) and Thursday morning (accomplishing 2 perfect 300 games.) He also coached the New Castle High School Boys Bowling Team for 20 years. He bowled in the Nationals yearly for over 20 years traveling to various states to compete enjoying each time he bowled, especially when he could compete with his two sons. Becoming a father was his most cherished accomplishment and was even better when he became a “Pa!”
He was an active member of Whittier Lane Baptist Church for over 60 years, serving where he was needed. He enjoyed singing in the church choir and solos.
He is survived by his wife, Donna; sons, Ryan (wife, Melissa) of New Palestine and Ross (wife, Tasha) of New Castle; grandchildren, Haylee Rose of New Palestine and Caiden Michael of New Castle; his mother, Gladys Ragan; a sister, Connie Martin; a brother, Mike (wife, Bobi), all of New Castle; a brother-in-law, William (wife, Debra) of Corpus Christi, Texas; uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews also survive.
He was preceded in death by his father, Oscar Ragan; an infant sister, Mable; mother and father-in-law, Arlie and Naomi Smithers; sister and brother in-laws, Roger and Arlie Smithers, Claude and Johnie Sue Douglas, Gregory and Brenda Kaye Guastella; nephews, Anthony Shane and Roger Lee Stigall.
Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 26, 2021 at Macer-Hall-Marcum & Moffitt Funeral Home, 2011 East Broad Street, New Castle with Revered Doug Kepell officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hills Memory Garden with Military Honors conducted by U.S. Army, American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, March 25, 2021 at the funeral home and one hour prior to services on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the donor’s choice of charities, D.A.V., New Castle Little League, or Shriners Children’s Hospital. Funeral directors and staff are honored to serve the Ragan family. On-line condolences may be made at www.macerhall.com.