Willard Ragle

Willard R. Ragle “Bill”, 84, of Kansas City, MO went home to be with his Lord and Savior after a long battle with Parkinson’s/Dementia on November 6, 2021.

Bill was born to Hazel & Edgar Ragle on April 27, 1937 in Holt, Missouri. He graduated from Stet High School in Stet, MO and enlisted in the Air Force serving in the Korean War in 1954. He married Barbara Ragle (Essig) in 1956 and together they had 4 children.

He worked in the insurance business for 13 years before starting his career at Church Mutual Insurance Company where he retired in 2005 as a Division Manager after 32 years, winning many trips and awards.

After retiring he began working as a volunteer for SAT 7, a Christian television network in foreign countries where he traveled to Turkey and Brazil.

Bill was a member of the Avondale Baptist Church for 56 years where he served as a deacon of the church, Sunday School Teacher, Treasurer and as driver for the church bus on Sunday mornings. He played an integral role in building the present church building when the church outgrew its building in Avondale, MO. His concern for people unable to get to church because of transportation led Bill to start a ministry of picking people up for church every Sunday morning for many years.

Bill was an avid KC Royals fan attending hundreds of games with his family and later in life with his son, David. He also enjoyed playing golf and took every opportunity to get out on the course. A favorite activity of Bill’s was getting together with family for holidays, summer picnics and family reunions.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel & Edgar Ragle, brothers CB Ragle and John Ragle, and sisters Beulah Wilson & Kathleen Stock.

He leaves behind his 4 children, Donna (John) Barcus, Karen (Roger) Wagoner, Peggy Lancaster and David (Melinda) Ragle, the mother of his children, Barbara Ragle, 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was loved by all that knew him including the caregivers he met while in hospice. He kept his ability to laugh and smile all the way to the end.

The family wishes to thank the Interim Hospice personnel for the wonderful care provided as well as the staff at The Gardens.

Services will be held at the Solid Rock Bible Church, 2501 NE Parvin Road, KCMO on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11:30 a.m.

Memorial donations can be made to SAT 7 ( https://www.sat7usa.org/donation/general/ ) in Bill’s name.