Martin A. Ragsdale

Martin A. Ragsdale, 91, a life-long resident of Cleveland, passed away Wednesday evening, August 1, 2007, in a local healthcare facility. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. He was retired from the U. S. Postal Service. He served his country in World War II in the U. S. Navy. He served with the See Bees in the South Pacific. He was one of the very first Eagle Scouts in Bradley County. He was an avid outdoorsman and he loved to garden. He was a resident of the Bowman Hills Community for over 40 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar Clyde Ragsdale and Jeanette Slaughter Ragsdale; first wife, Lola Dean Ledford Ragsdale; second wife, Beulah Marie Ragsdale; and one brother, Jack Ragsdale.

Survivors include two sons and daughters in law, Joe and Nelda Ragsdale of Calhoun, GA and Clyde and Ann Ragsdale of Seymour, TN; two daughters, Jeanne Johnson and husband Wendell of Cleveland and Denna Kastner of Price, UT; one brother, J. B. Ragsdale of Chattanooga; one sister, Elizabeth Davies of Barbourville, KY; eight grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Grissom Funeral Home with Pastor Andrew Henry and Rev. Leann Crandall officiating. Interment will follow in Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with grandsons and nephews serving as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 3425 N. Ocoee Street; Cleveland, TN 37312.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. For additional information, phone 476-8575 or to send an online condolence to the family, visit www.grissomfh.net.