Precious Memories...

Our Father, Grandfather, Friend, School-Teacher,
Bus Driver, Food Service Worker, and Husband.

On April 23, 1939, in Rentiesville, Oklahoma, near Checotah, a baby boy was born to J.W. and Laura Ragsdale. They named their new bundle of joy David Lee Ragsdale.

David started school at MayEver Green School near Rentiesville. Shortly afterward the family moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma. David attended and graduated from Manual Training High School with the class of 1956 alone with his two brothers, Charles and Issac.

At a young age, the family worshipped at the Metropolitan Baptist Church under the late Reverend Wade Watts. David was devoted to many capacities within the church. One of his proudest moments was serving as a deacon. He attended Metropolitan Baptist Church under Reverend Chester Jackson until the church was dissolved in 2015. Later, he joined and served at Fountain Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend William Brown until his health began to fail.

David joined the United States Air Force shortly after graduation and continued traveling while still in the Air Force. He returned home and let "Uncle Sam" help him pay his way through school, after which he earned his bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in counseling.

David taught school for Muskogee Public Schools until his retirement. After a year of retirement, he started working for the Department of Veteran Affairs in food services for over twenty years.

Mr. David L. Ragsdale, Sr., in his 83rd year, dozed into the peaceful slumber of eternal rest on Monday morning, October 17, 2022 from his home in Muskogee.

David was preceded in death by his parents, J.W. & Laura (Walters) Ragsdale; his sisters, Mary Ellen Johnson and Lois Burkhalter; and his brothers, Charles Ragsdale, Sr., and J.W. Ragsdale.

He is survived by: his wife, Celestine Ragsdale; his brother, Issac (Lea) Rasdale of Las Vegas, Nevada; his children, Belinda Southard of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, David (Camisha) Ragsdale, Jr., of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Marcus (Delisa) Reagan of Dallas, Texas, Dana Ragsdale of Louisville, Kentucky, Deborah (Demond) Travis of Springfield, Missouri, Hope (Victor) Ashley of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Sean (Shunda) Ragsdale of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; his bonus children, Charlotte Nalls, Charles (Wanda) Marshall, Jr., Chris (Joanna) Marshall of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Cheronda (Raisher)-Marshall- Butler, and Charo (Keith) Brown of Muskogee, Oklahoma; along with a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, family, and friends.

The Final Salute for David L. Ragsdale, Sr., will commence on Friday, October 28, 2022 at High Noon in the most holy sanctuary of Faith Deliverance Christian Center.

You may visit Deacon Ragsdale, as he slumbers in peaceful repose in the People's Chapel of the Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc., in Muskogee on Thursday, October 27, 2022 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

Burial will immediately follow the services in the Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma.