John Knox Ragsdale 86 formerly of Blair widower of Dorothy Cromer Ragsdale died Sunday February 13 2005 at J. F. Hawkins Health Care.Mr. Ragsdale was born on November 5 1918 in Blair a son of the late Claude H. and Alice Coward Ragsdale. He graduated from Monticello High School and attended Clemson University. He was a Navy veteran of WW II serving with the Seabee's. He retired from Champion International and was a farmer. He was a member of Salem Presbyterian Church a former member of Rock Creek Baptist Church the South Carolina Dairymen's Association and Friends of Clemson Alumni Association.Mr. Ragsdale is survived by a daughter and son-in-law Karen Ragsdale and Donnie Way of Lexington; two sons John Knox Ragsdale Jr. of Columbia and Ted E. Ragsdale of Blair; two sisters Helen Counts of Newberry and Virginia Davis of Winnsboro; a brother Vernon Ragsdale of Seneca; a special grandson Bryan Greer of York; two granddaughters four step-grandchildren six great grandchildren and five step-great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two brothers James Ragsdale and Claude H. Ragsdale Jr.; and two sisters Beverly Rice and Margie Weeks.Funeral services were conducted at 3:00 P.M. Wednesday at Whitaker Funeral Home by the Rev. William Hodges. Interment was in Rosemont Cemetery.Visitation was from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Tuesday at the Whitaker Funeral Home.Memorials may be made to the Salem Presbyterian Church to the Rock Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund or to Ascension Hospice PO Box 3077 West Columbia SC 29171.Active pallbearers were Pete Ragsdale Edward Ragsdale Ashley Smith Charles Doolittle Harry Cromer Jr. John Watts Robert Blair and Will Ragsdale.Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.comWhitaker Funeral Home Newberry is assisting the family.