Obituary of Kenneth F. Ragan

Kenneth Franklin Ragan, age 91, of Briarwood Lane, Boone, died Tuesday morning, May 19, 2009 at Watauga Medical Center. He was born January 1, 1918 in Watauga County. Mr. Ragan was a veteran of WWII, serving in Patton's 3rd Army and was a member of the American Legion Post #130. He attended Hopewell United Methodist Church and was a retired from the housekeeping department at Appalachian State University. Mr. Ragan is survived by; his wife, Violet Houck Ragan; two daughters, Linda Buchanan and husband Ron, of Rock Hill, SC, and Nancy Jones and husband John, of Boone; one granddaughter Nichole Buchanan, of Spartanburg, SC; and one grandson, Tim Jones and Michelle Miller, of Boone; and special friend and caregiver, Violet Winebarger of Boone. He was the last of fourteen children born to Lewis Franklin and Nancy Lookabill Ragan. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Rev. Herbert McCoy. The body will lie in state at the chapel from 1 until 2 o'clock. Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be sent to the Duke Alzheimer's Foundation, in care of Duke University Medical Center, Post Office Box 2914, Durham, North Carolina 27710. The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6 until 7:30 at Austin & Barnes. Online condolences may be sent to the family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Ragan family.