William M. “Bill” Ragle Sr.

William “Bill” Ragle, Sr., 86, passed away Monday, August 22 at Edgewater Woods. Mr. Ragle was born to Bobby & Tiny Bell (Bennett) Ragle , Burkesville, KY. Bill, as he was called, leaves behind a great history of past and present friends and loved ones. He married Wanda J. (Stohler) Ragle on April 17, 1953 here in Anderson. They were married 51 years at the time of Wanda’s death, June 18, 2004. He leaves behind is oldest son, William M. “Bill” Ragle, Jr., of Anderson; his youngest son, Kenneth L. “Ken” Ragle, also of Anderson; two grandsons, Brian (wife, Debbie) Ragle, of Cambridge, MD and Eric (wife, Dana) Ragle, of Crossville, TN; and four great-grandchildren, Christian, Gracie and Zoeie Ragle, of Crossville, TN and Allie Ragle, of Monterey, TN. Mr. Ragle was the second CB’er in Madison County in the 1960’s. He also formed the Madco CB Club of Indiana, holding the office of president for many years. He worked for 30 years at Delco-Remy Division of General Motors. His past-time was working on small engine repairs for over 40 years. Bill’s life was filled with Gospel and Bluegrass music. He was friends with both past and present Bluegrass stars, Ralph Stanley, Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff, Grandpa Jones and Minnie Pearl and Country stars, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagner. Playing alongside all these stars, they were more than just acquaintances, they were very close, dear friends. He was formerly the president of the Anderson Conservation Club, where he held that office for many years in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, having bluegrass shows there two Saturdays each month before relocating to the Coon Hunter’s Club. For many of those years he played with his group The Shenandoah Bluegrass Boys. There wasn’t any bluegrass instrument he couldn’t play, passing the love of bluegrass to his two sons and grandsons. Bill was a member of the Anderson Police Department Civil Defense for many years. He lived most of his life in Anderson, West Side Jackson Park. When younger, he and his family were members of the West Side Holiness Tabernacle at 23rd Street and Dewey Street. Later, he attended the South Anderson Wesleyan Church with Rev. George Wallace, his wife, Peggy Wallace and son, Tom Wallace as pastors. After which, he attended Pilgrim Holiness Church at 22nd Street and Lincoln Street, with pastor, the late Rev. Roy Norton and his wife Esther. He also leaves behind a very dear friends in Muncie, Rev. Hazel Ledbetter, of Jamestown, TN and Rev. Willie Ledbetter of Anderson. Bill also sat on the board of the Madison County Humane Society. The family wishes to express gratitude to Virginia (Mott) Stinson for her help and concern during Bill’s last few years of illness. Mr. Ragle’s body will lay in state at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Service & Crematory. Burial will take place at Pleasant Walk Cemetery, next to his wife. Presiding over the funeral will be Rev. James Southerland, of Shirley. Family will be receiving friends and neighbors, Thursday, 2-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be Friday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. The family would ask any contributions be made to the Madison County Humane Society or the Anderson Police Department K-9 Unit.