In Memory Of
Herbert Ragsdale
Herbert Ragsdale
Herbert W. Ragsdale, 83, died Monday, October 27, 2008, in Topeka.
He was born May 8, 1925, to Ruth Wadley Ragsdale and George T. Ragsdale.
After attending Highland Park High School, Herb enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943. He served in WWII as a Radioman on the USS Barnstable, the USS Wasatch in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the USS Rocky Mount and submarine chaser, PC 1205. Herb graduated from Washburn University in 1949; received a Master's degree in Spanish from KU in 1950; and taught Spanish at Kansas City Kansas Junior College for 4 years. He attended Russian Language School at Middlebury, Vermont and was employed by the National Security Agency.
Herb married Margaret Gale Tillotson of Topeka, Kansas on September 2, 1955, at First United Methodist Church.
Commissioned as a Navy intelligence officer, he served in Japan, Washington, D.C. and Hawaii, including duty for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and on the USS Northampton.
The family moved to Topeka in 1966 where Herb taught Spanish, Russian and German at Washburn University for 30 years and retired as Professor Emeritus. He was a Commander and Commanding Officer of the Naval Reserve Unit and co-authored the book, Soviet Naval Operations in the Great Patriotic War. Herb was President of the Washburn Professorial Investment Club and headed the Hispanic Institute and International House Committee. He was a member of Phi Sigma Iota, national foreign language honor society and received the Samuel Lux award from the Greater Topeka Chapter of National Council for volunteer work.
Herbert was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Margaret T. Ragsdale, Topeka; parents, George T. and Ruth W. Ragsdale, Topeka; brothers, Frank Ragsdale, Topeka; George T. Ragsdale, Jr., Wichita; Hilton L. Ragsdale, Ozawkie; and sister, Freda Porting, Hutchinson.
He is survived by children: Alexandra Chappell, Edgewater, Maryland; Elizabeth Ensley, Topeka, Kansas; Charles Ragsdale, Pacific Beach, California; grandchildren, Jessica Ensley, Wichita, Kansas; Daniel Ensley, Lawrence, Kansas; Laura Chappell, Edgewater, Maryland; and sister, Mary Brown, Topeka.
A Memorial Service will be given Friday, October 31, 2008, at 11:30 a.m., First United Methodist Church, Klasse Memorial Chapel, 6th and Topeka Blvd., Topeka, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Herbert W. Ragsdale Award for Excellence, Washburn Endowment Association, 1729 SW MacVicar, Topeka, KS 66604 or online at www.wea.org/Giving/Give.asp; or to the Military Officers Association of America: The Scholarship Fund, MOAA, P.O. Box 34889, Alexandria, VA 22334-0889 or online at www.moaa.org/about/about_scholarship/about_scholarship_contribute/index.htm_.
He was born May 8, 1925, to Ruth Wadley Ragsdale and George T. Ragsdale.
After attending Highland Park High School, Herb enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943. He served in WWII as a Radioman on the USS Barnstable, the USS Wasatch in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the USS Rocky Mount and submarine chaser, PC 1205. Herb graduated from Washburn University in 1949; received a Master's degree in Spanish from KU in 1950; and taught Spanish at Kansas City Kansas Junior College for 4 years. He attended Russian Language School at Middlebury, Vermont and was employed by the National Security Agency.
Herb married Margaret Gale Tillotson of Topeka, Kansas on September 2, 1955, at First United Methodist Church.
Commissioned as a Navy intelligence officer, he served in Japan, Washington, D.C. and Hawaii, including duty for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and on the USS Northampton.
The family moved to Topeka in 1966 where Herb taught Spanish, Russian and German at Washburn University for 30 years and retired as Professor Emeritus. He was a Commander and Commanding Officer of the Naval Reserve Unit and co-authored the book, Soviet Naval Operations in the Great Patriotic War. Herb was President of the Washburn Professorial Investment Club and headed the Hispanic Institute and International House Committee. He was a member of Phi Sigma Iota, national foreign language honor society and received the Samuel Lux award from the Greater Topeka Chapter of National Council for volunteer work.
Herbert was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Margaret T. Ragsdale, Topeka; parents, George T. and Ruth W. Ragsdale, Topeka; brothers, Frank Ragsdale, Topeka; George T. Ragsdale, Jr., Wichita; Hilton L. Ragsdale, Ozawkie; and sister, Freda Porting, Hutchinson.
He is survived by children: Alexandra Chappell, Edgewater, Maryland; Elizabeth Ensley, Topeka, Kansas; Charles Ragsdale, Pacific Beach, California; grandchildren, Jessica Ensley, Wichita, Kansas; Daniel Ensley, Lawrence, Kansas; Laura Chappell, Edgewater, Maryland; and sister, Mary Brown, Topeka.
A Memorial Service will be given Friday, October 31, 2008, at 11:30 a.m., First United Methodist Church, Klasse Memorial Chapel, 6th and Topeka Blvd., Topeka, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Herbert W. Ragsdale Award for Excellence, Washburn Endowment Association, 1729 SW MacVicar, Topeka, KS 66604 or online at www.wea.org/Giving/Give.asp; or to the Military Officers Association of America: The Scholarship Fund, MOAA, P.O. Box 34889, Alexandria, VA 22334-0889 or online at www.moaa.org/about/about_scholarship/about_scholarship_contribute/index.htm_.
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