Otis S. Ragland, Sr.

Otis S. Ragland, Sr. 92, was born October 10, 1924 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was the son of the late Rufus and Alice Banks Ragland.

He served in the United States Army during World War II until he was honorably discharged.    Otis began working as a dish washer at Bird in Hand. For 28 years, he worked as a Batch Man also known as a Cement Stirrer at the former Scully Concrete Company in Coatesville.  Otis was a hard-working gentleman and devoted to his family. Over the years, he was employed in the Environmental Services Department at the Brandywine Hospital, and also worked at Main Line Rehab.

On January 1, 1964, Otis met Lillian D. Faust. They were married on January 26 of the same year.  Together Otis and Doris shared 53 years of marriage.

Otis enjoyed watching the Phillies, loved to play pinochle, and was an avid reader. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Trinity located in Coatesville, Pa. He was a well-mannered gentleman who was very supportive of his children.  His favorite sayings were, “Have a plan and execute that plan to the fullest”, and “Tell the truth and I’ll know how to defend you.”

On Wednesday April 19, 2017 Otis passed at home peacefully surrounded by his family. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Thomas; his brothers, Winford, Sr., Milton, Walter; his sisters, Cobutha, Vania, Ruth Francis, Bertha and a son-in-law, Barry Ernay.

Those left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife Doris Ragland; his sons, Steven E. Ragland (Annie) of South Carolina, James Darryl Ragland (Nikita) of Roswell, Georgia, Otis S. Ragland, Jr. (Karen) of Dickson, Tennessee; daughter, Adranih Ernay of Coatesville, PA; 8 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held 4 PM Sunday, April 30, 2017 at the Episcopal Church of the Trinity, 323 E. Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, with a visitation beginning at 3:30 PM.