Homer C. Ragsdale, Jr

Retired US Navy Commander, Homer Clifford Ragsdale, Jr. passed away on 1 September 2018 in Redlands, CA.  CDR Ragsdale was married to the late Kathleen A Thomas.  CDR Ragsdale is survived by his sons and daughters, Suzanne W Struges, Homer C Ragsdale III, Robert W Ragsdale (deceased), Kathleen E Neel, Harry P Ragsdale, Randolph W Ragsdale, Emily J Ragsdale, and Caroline A Higgins; 19 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.

CDR Ragsdale was born in on 31 October 1923 in Wichita, Kansas to Homer C Ragsdale and Worth Wilson.  He grew up in Griffin, Georgia.  He and Kathleen were married May 8th 1944 in Huntington, West Virginia prior to his deployment to the South Pacific during World War II.
CDR Ragsdale military career spanned 30 years before retiring October 1972.  CDR Ragsdale began his military career at the US Navy Pre-Flight School, University of Georgia, in Feb 1943.  CDR Ragsdale also attended Mercer University and Alabama Polytechnic Institute prior to donning his Navy wings. He received his wings and commission as an Ensign in 1944.   His long and colorful flying career began with the famed "Black Cats" of World War II. He served tours of duty with VPB-11 and VPB-33 in the southwest Pacific.  While with VPB-33 he participated in the Philippine invasion and liberation at Leyte Gulf.  Following duty at NAS Banana River, VPB-100 and VP-AM4, he was released to inactive duty, and served with reserve squadron VP-741 at Jacksonville, FL.  In March of 1950, VP-741 was recalled to active duty.  CDR Ragsdale served subsequent tours at NAS Pensacola as a flight training officer, NAS Atlanta as a recruiting officer, Transport Squadron/Air Transport Squadron VR-2, Air Development Squadron VX-6, and the FAA in Washington DC as an Air Traffic Control Specialist and Executive Pilot.  CDR Ragsdale served with the Navy Regional Airspace Office, Los Angeles as the assistant Navy Airspace Officer.  CDR Ragsdale became Commanding Officer (CO) of VP-2 on 07 Jan 1966; after reporting to the squadron for duty as Executive Officer (XO) in April 1965. He flew numerous missions along the coast of the embattled Southeast Asian nation, maintaining an alert watch for submarine activity and enemy infiltration by sea.  In March of 1967 he reported to the USS Chilton APA-38 as the Executive Officer following the tour of combat duty in Vietnam.  In January 1969 CDR Ragsdale returned to the Navy Regional Airspace Office, Los Angeles.  Prior to his retirement, he severed as Special Assistant to the Commanding Officer at NAS Los Alamitos.   He holds an airline transport pilot rating, and is certified as an Air Traffic Control Specialist by the Civil Aeronautics Administration.  CDR Ragsdale wears the Air Medal with Gold Star, earned in the Pacific during World War II.
After Homer’s retirement, he spent 5 years working for Fairway Ford in Placenta CA as their top rated salesman.   Homer also became an amateur genealogist studying his family ancestors.  He was able to trace his linage to Emperor Charlemagne.  He belongs to several genealogical societies including; The Sons of the American Revolution, Order to the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States. Huguenot Society, Hieronymus Society   Homer and Kathleen made several cross-country trips to visit family and genealogy study.  He enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 
Memorial service held at the Ragsdale home on Saturday 15 September 2018 at 12:00 noon. 
1635 Waterford Avenue
Redlands, CA  92374

CDR Homer C Ragsdale, Jr. will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.  Date and time are being scheduled.