2nd LT US ARMY AIR FORCES
CDR US NAVY
~
Everywhere Dr. Stuart Ragland Jr. turned, he was looking for an adventure.
Throughout his life, he was successful in finding what he sought. "He was not a man to look back; he always looked to the future to find new and exciting things to do," said a daughter, Evelyn R. Zink of Ruxton, Md. "He always encouraged those around him to do the same." Dr. Ragland, who worked most of his life as a doctor of internal medicine, died Nov. 22 of a heart attack at his home in Christiansted, St. Croix. He was 85. A native of Richmond, Dr. Ragland always had designs on becoming a pilot. While attending Virginia Military Institute, he twice sneaked away to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, only to be thwarted both times, his daughter said. He finally got his wish in 1943 in the U.S. Army Air Corps, flying B-17s and training as a B-29 pilot during World War II. After the war, he continued in his pursuits of a medical degree, finishing at the top of his class at the Medical College of Virginia in 1950. Four years later, he entered private practice in Richmond, while also teaching at MCV and serving as the director of gastrointestinal research. However, in 1961, he was approached about getting back in the cockpit with the chance of becoming an astronaut. The offer was too much to turn down, so he joined the Navy and became involved in Project Mercury, the first human spaceflight program of the United States. He earned his naval aviator wings in July 1962 and in May 1963 he served as aero-medical monitor for astronaut Gordon Cooper's 22-orbit flight around the Earth. During that time, Dr. Ragland was the deputy director of the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory of the Naval Air Development Center in Johnsville, Pa. He later was promoted to commander and served an 11-month stint as senior medical officer on the USS Forrestal. However, he wasn't able to reach his goal of entering space because he needed glasses, his daughter said. Upon his retirement from active duty, Dr. Ragland continued to practice private medicine in New York City and later Colebrook, Conn., before retiring in 1982. His adventures didn't stop there, as he and his wife, Edwina Ragland, attempted to sail across the North Atlantic in a 38-foot yacht, Wahconda. During the trip, a storm broke the boat's mast and blew them to Nova Scotia. After repairs, the couple decided to take a multiyear cruise through the Caribbean before settling in St. Croix, where they lived since 1990. An avid tennis player, Dr. Ragland played the sport several times a week. He also developed a passion for painting and was an active member in an opera society. In addition to his daughter and wife, Dr. Ragland's survivors include a son, Stuart Ragland III of Columbia, Md.; two other daughters, Anne R. Finney of Butler, Md. and Elizabeth R. Johnson of Durham, N.C.; a sister, Elizabeth R. Perkins of Deltaville; and nine grandchildren. A graveside service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Hollywood Cemetery, 412 S. Cherry St. in Richmond.Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) - Friday, December 7, 2007
CDR US NAVY
~
Everywhere Dr. Stuart Ragland Jr. turned, he was looking for an adventure.
Throughout his life, he was successful in finding what he sought. "He was not a man to look back; he always looked to the future to find new and exciting things to do," said a daughter, Evelyn R. Zink of Ruxton, Md. "He always encouraged those around him to do the same." Dr. Ragland, who worked most of his life as a doctor of internal medicine, died Nov. 22 of a heart attack at his home in Christiansted, St. Croix. He was 85. A native of Richmond, Dr. Ragland always had designs on becoming a pilot. While attending Virginia Military Institute, he twice sneaked away to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, only to be thwarted both times, his daughter said. He finally got his wish in 1943 in the U.S. Army Air Corps, flying B-17s and training as a B-29 pilot during World War II. After the war, he continued in his pursuits of a medical degree, finishing at the top of his class at the Medical College of Virginia in 1950. Four years later, he entered private practice in Richmond, while also teaching at MCV and serving as the director of gastrointestinal research. However, in 1961, he was approached about getting back in the cockpit with the chance of becoming an astronaut. The offer was too much to turn down, so he joined the Navy and became involved in Project Mercury, the first human spaceflight program of the United States. He earned his naval aviator wings in July 1962 and in May 1963 he served as aero-medical monitor for astronaut Gordon Cooper's 22-orbit flight around the Earth. During that time, Dr. Ragland was the deputy director of the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory of the Naval Air Development Center in Johnsville, Pa. He later was promoted to commander and served an 11-month stint as senior medical officer on the USS Forrestal. However, he wasn't able to reach his goal of entering space because he needed glasses, his daughter said. Upon his retirement from active duty, Dr. Ragland continued to practice private medicine in New York City and later Colebrook, Conn., before retiring in 1982. His adventures didn't stop there, as he and his wife, Edwina Ragland, attempted to sail across the North Atlantic in a 38-foot yacht, Wahconda. During the trip, a storm broke the boat's mast and blew them to Nova Scotia. After repairs, the couple decided to take a multiyear cruise through the Caribbean before settling in St. Croix, where they lived since 1990. An avid tennis player, Dr. Ragland played the sport several times a week. He also developed a passion for painting and was an active member in an opera society. In addition to his daughter and wife, Dr. Ragland's survivors include a son, Stuart Ragland III of Columbia, Md.; two other daughters, Anne R. Finney of Butler, Md. and Elizabeth R. Johnson of Durham, N.C.; a sister, Elizabeth R. Perkins of Deltaville; and nine grandchildren. A graveside service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Hollywood Cemetery, 412 S. Cherry St. in Richmond.Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) - Friday, December 7, 2007
2nd LT US ARMY AIR FORCES
CDR US NAVY
~
Everywhere Dr. Stuart Ragland Jr. turned, he was looking for an adventure.
Throughout his life, he was successful in finding what he sought. "He was not a man to look back; he always looked to the future to find new and exciting things to do," said a daughter, Evelyn R. Zink of Ruxton, Md. "He always encouraged those around him to do the same." Dr. Ragland, who worked most of his life as a doctor of internal medicine, died Nov. 22 of a heart attack at his home in Christiansted, St. Croix. He was 85. A native of Richmond, Dr. Ragland always had designs on becoming a pilot. While attending Virginia Military Institute, he twice sneaked away to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, only to be thwarted both times, his daughter said. He finally got his wish in 1943 in the U.S. Army Air Corps, flying B-17s and training as a B-29 pilot during World War II. After the war, he continued in his pursuits of a medical degree, finishing at the top of his class at the Medical College of Virginia in 1950. Four years later, he entered private practice in Richmond, while also teaching at MCV and serving as the director of gastrointestinal research. However, in 1961, he was approached about getting back in the cockpit with the chance of becoming an astronaut. The offer was too much to turn down, so he joined the Navy and became involved in Project Mercury, the first human spaceflight program of the United States. He earned his naval aviator wings in July 1962 and in May 1963 he served as aero-medical monitor for astronaut Gordon Cooper's 22-orbit flight around the Earth. During that time, Dr. Ragland was the deputy director of the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory of the Naval Air Development Center in Johnsville, Pa. He later was promoted to commander and served an 11-month stint as senior medical officer on the USS Forrestal. However, he wasn't able to reach his goal of entering space because he needed glasses, his daughter said. Upon his retirement from active duty, Dr. Ragland continued to practice private medicine in New York City and later Colebrook, Conn., before retiring in 1982. His adventures didn't stop there, as he and his wife, Edwina Ragland, attempted to sail across the North Atlantic in a 38-foot yacht, Wahconda. During the trip, a storm broke the boat's mast and blew them to Nova Scotia. After repairs, the couple decided to take a multiyear cruise through the Caribbean before settling in St. Croix, where they lived since 1990. An avid tennis player, Dr. Ragland played the sport several times a week. He also developed a passion for painting and was an active member in an opera society. In addition to his daughter and wife, Dr. Ragland's survivors include a son, Stuart Ragland III of Columbia, Md.; two other daughters, Anne R. Finney of Butler, Md. and Elizabeth R. Johnson of Durham, N.C.; a sister, Elizabeth R. Perkins of Deltaville; and nine grandchildren. A graveside service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Hollywood Cemetery, 412 S. Cherry St. in Richmond.Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) - Friday, December 7, 2007
CDR US NAVY
~
Everywhere Dr. Stuart Ragland Jr. turned, he was looking for an adventure.
Throughout his life, he was successful in finding what he sought. "He was not a man to look back; he always looked to the future to find new and exciting things to do," said a daughter, Evelyn R. Zink of Ruxton, Md. "He always encouraged those around him to do the same." Dr. Ragland, who worked most of his life as a doctor of internal medicine, died Nov. 22 of a heart attack at his home in Christiansted, St. Croix. He was 85. A native of Richmond, Dr. Ragland always had designs on becoming a pilot. While attending Virginia Military Institute, he twice sneaked away to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, only to be thwarted both times, his daughter said. He finally got his wish in 1943 in the U.S. Army Air Corps, flying B-17s and training as a B-29 pilot during World War II. After the war, he continued in his pursuits of a medical degree, finishing at the top of his class at the Medical College of Virginia in 1950. Four years later, he entered private practice in Richmond, while also teaching at MCV and serving as the director of gastrointestinal research. However, in 1961, he was approached about getting back in the cockpit with the chance of becoming an astronaut. The offer was too much to turn down, so he joined the Navy and became involved in Project Mercury, the first human spaceflight program of the United States. He earned his naval aviator wings in July 1962 and in May 1963 he served as aero-medical monitor for astronaut Gordon Cooper's 22-orbit flight around the Earth. During that time, Dr. Ragland was the deputy director of the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory of the Naval Air Development Center in Johnsville, Pa. He later was promoted to commander and served an 11-month stint as senior medical officer on the USS Forrestal. However, he wasn't able to reach his goal of entering space because he needed glasses, his daughter said. Upon his retirement from active duty, Dr. Ragland continued to practice private medicine in New York City and later Colebrook, Conn., before retiring in 1982. His adventures didn't stop there, as he and his wife, Edwina Ragland, attempted to sail across the North Atlantic in a 38-foot yacht, Wahconda. During the trip, a storm broke the boat's mast and blew them to Nova Scotia. After repairs, the couple decided to take a multiyear cruise through the Caribbean before settling in St. Croix, where they lived since 1990. An avid tennis player, Dr. Ragland played the sport several times a week. He also developed a passion for painting and was an active member in an opera society. In addition to his daughter and wife, Dr. Ragland's survivors include a son, Stuart Ragland III of Columbia, Md.; two other daughters, Anne R. Finney of Butler, Md. and Elizabeth R. Johnson of Durham, N.C.; a sister, Elizabeth R. Perkins of Deltaville; and nine grandchildren. A graveside service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Hollywood Cemetery, 412 S. Cherry St. in Richmond.Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) - Friday, December 7, 2007
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