George Ragsdale

George Ragsdale, 81, of Bridge City, passed away Monday, November 18, 2013, at his residence.Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 21, 2013, at Claybar Funeral Home Chapel in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Forrest Wood, pastor of First Baptist Church of Orangefield. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens near Bridge City. Serving as Pallbearers will be Bill Kiihnl, Larry Sanford, Ronnie Evans, Robert Montagne, Harvey Gunter and Paul Smith.

Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home in Orange.

Born in Corsicana, Texas on May 26, 1932, George was the son of G.W. and Ura Ragsdale. George’s early childhood was in a small county school in Rocky Mountain, Texas. This was a small school that was moved into the New London School District upon consolidation. His education through high school was at New London.

He met Frances, his wife of 58 years, when her dad was transferred into the New London oil field area. They married on December 29, 1954, after receiving their degree at Stephen F. Austin College.

His years in school business were enjoyable years, most of them in Deweyville ISD, where he was a teacher, high school principal and superintendent. His students still made it a point to come around to visit him. The only ones who suffered going through school were his daughter and son. They always said they could never get away with anything because they had mama in elementary and daddy all the way through high school.

George loved his dog, Kellie Kay, He enjoyed wood working where he made fountain pens. George also loved to travel with his airstream friends where he made every state in the union; including Alaska and Nova Scotia. He also enjoyed his morning trips to Whataburger, hunting, shrimping and fishing. George will be solely missed by many friends

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two grandsons, Michael and James Reeh. George is survived by his wife, Frances Ragsdale; children, Elaine Reeh and husband, Wayne, formerly of Orange, Randy Ragsdale and wife, Paula; three grandchildren, Rebekah, Sarah, and Ryan.

He is also survived by his sister, Peggy Shaffer and husband, Wayne of Hillsboro, Texas; sister-in-law, Nora Pass of Longview; brother-in-law, Bob Pitts of Houston; and niece, Dee Dee Guido and husband, Mike of Covington, Louisiana.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Orangefield, located at 9788 FM 105, Orange, Texas 77630, or P.O. Box 288, 77639 Orangefield, Texas.