John Robert Ragsdale

John Robert Ragsdale passed away peacefully at his home in Montgomery, Texas, surrounded by his wife and daughters on November 13, 2024. He was born in Houston on September 8, 1935 to Coke Ono Ragsdale and Winnie Laurene (Wilshire) Ragsdale and was raised in Humble, Texas. He was a proud graduate of Humble High School and Sam Houston State University, Class of 1959, where he was in the ROTC program. He was in a fraternity precursor called, Caballero which became a Sigma Chi Chapter where he was an initiated member. Upon receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration, he began his commission in the US Army. He achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant as a Launching Platoon Leader for the Nike Hercules missile team, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment. He was also recognized as an excellent marksman with several commendations. While stationed in Buffalo, New York, he met and married Mary Ellen (Mintzas) Ragsdale. After his commission was completed, the couple moved to Houston, Texas where they began their life together raising two daughters, Georgia and Laura. He began his work life in the early 1960’s as a salesman for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company where he was awarded, “Top Ten Sales Representative.” After this achievement was won, the company attempted to reassign him to a poorly performing territory with only a meagre improvement in salary. At this pivotal moment, he realized that he needed to be his own boss and control his own future. This became a key piece of advice that he would share with others throughout his life. In the mid 1960’s, he found his way to a new business concept called “franchising” and took a risk opening his own Burger King in the Houston area. By the time of his retirement, he and a couple of partners owned and operated 23 stores. During these years, he invested in Klein Bank and sat on their board for three decades as the bank grew in the northwest Houston area. Upon the sale of the operations of his business and the sale of the bank, he was blessed to make a large donation to his Alma Mater, Sam Houston State University. Presently, the new SHSU Alumni Building bears his name. In 2003, his wife Mary Ellen died after a long battle with kidney disease. Being a widower was a position he was not cut out for and with grace and good fortune, he reconnected with his Humble High School sweetheart, Judith Ann (Reed) Hines. She was also a widower, and the two began spending time together. They married in 2004 with the support of both families. They would spend the rest of his life together and lived happily in the Walden and Montgomery, Texas area where they were members of April Sound Church. They traveled extensively with friends and enjoyed time with their children and grandchildren. He is preceded by Mary Ellen Ragsdale. He is survived by wife, Judith Ann Ragsdale, daughters Georgia and Laura Ragsdale, grandson Vincent Ragsdale and step grandson Robert Wahlman. He is survived by his step children, Mark and Robin Hines, Wes and Jane (Hines) Thornton, Nancy Hines, and Wade and Frances Hines and his step grandchildren Kristen, David and Kayla Hines; Matthew, Amanda and Meridith Thornton; Christopher and Tiffani Pinales; Hannah and Andy Wicklund. A memorial service and reception immediately to follow will be held: Saturday, December 7th, 2024 11:00AM Service, Reception 12:15PM Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home* 10129 FM 1097 Willis, TX 77318 (*Please make note of the Willis location, this company has several other locations) A link to the livestream is listed below. https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/a24128895737183 In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to: Mercy Ships Mercyships.org Mercy Ships P.O. Box 2020 Garden Valley, TX 75771

John Robert Ragsdale

September 8, 1935 - November 13, 2024