William (Bill) Ragland, 88, of Brevard, N.C. entered Heaven on May 19, 2020. He was born in Centreville, Alabama on October 15, 1931. He was preceded in death by his father, Samuel Ragland; his mother, Ethel Ragland Pearson; his step-father, Richmond Pearson; his brothers Lester (Leck) Ragland; Jack Ragland and Dick Pearson. He leaves behind his devoted wife of 61 years, Lucille Goodman Ragland; sons Dale Ragland and Billy Ragland; daughter Rhonda Ragland Burris and husband Randall; extended family Jon and Jennifer Messer and also his beloved grandchildren Danielle, Samantha, Joshua, Brice, Brady, and Joel and great-grandchildren Anthony, Roman, Jax, and Abbigail. Bill graduated from Bibb County High School in Alabama. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force. Afterward, he attended Texas Tech University as an Engineer Major. He started his career at Chance Vought Air Craft and then moved to Red Stone Arsenal in Huntersville, Alabama where he continued his work on the military and space missile program. Later he went to work with RCA in satellite tracking with NASA. While with RCA he and Lucille moved all over the U. S. until they came to Brevard where he worked at the Tracking Station in Rosman. He left RCA to settle in Brevard and where he opened Ragland Electric Supply and Lighting Center in 1973. He was a successful business owner for 35 years. As a member of the Transylvania community Bill served on the N. C. Workforce Development Board, SETA, and NAPIC. Over the years he received numerous awards for his dedicated service including being a recipient of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine and a nominee of the Presidential Point of Light Award. However, among his most cherished awards were being known as “The Voice of the Tigers” for 43 years, his induction into the RHS Hall of Fame and the school’s press box being named in his honor. He loved his family, his community, and the RHS Tigers but most of all he loved his Lord. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Brevard for over 56 years where he served in numerous positions including Sunday School Director and Chairman of the Deacons. The funeral service will be held at 11 AM Saturday, May 23, 2020 at Calvary Baptist Church. Interment will be at Blue Ridge Gardens of Memory (formerly Pisgah Gardens). In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Rosman High School. 749 Pickens Hwy., Rosman, NC 28772, marked for the Bill Ragland Memorial Fund to assist at-risk student-athletes or Calvary Baptist Church, 101 Osborne Road, Brevard, NC 28712. Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.