Elizabeth L. Ragsdale

Elizabeth Louise (Fitzpatrick) Ragsdale died on August 28, 2011 of natural causes in Colorado Springs, CO, where she and her husband, Roy D. Ragsdale “Rags” resided with her daughter and son-in-law, Maureen Harrington and Jim Harrington.

Elizabeth was born in New Bedford, MA on June 15, 1922. Her parents were Joseph Paul Fitzpatrick and Irene (Sullivan) Fitzpatrick.

After completing high school, Betty attended Boston City Hospital School of Nursing with the support of her uncle, Monsignor Joseph Sullivan. Upon graduation she became a Registered Nurse.

While in Boston she met a handsome aviator, Roy D. Ragsdale, who was studying at MIT. She joined the Army and trained at Fort Sam Houston, and left for the Pacific theater via the Panama Canal. At the age of 23 she reunited with her aviator in Hawaii and married him at Schofield Barracks and had a 48 hour honeymoon.

As an Air Force wife, she and Rags traveled extensively in the continental United States including Illinois, California, Kansas, Virginia, Massachusetts and Texas. As a devout Catholic, she and Rags were blessed with eight children whom they raised in accordance with the teachings of the church.

As her familial responsibilities allowed she pursued her nursing career at various medical facilities. Betty always remained active in the Officer’s Wife’s Club and numerous Catholic service organizations. After Col. Roy Ragsdale’s retirement after 30 years of Air Force service, Betty and Rags settled in Summerville, SC. They spent many enjoyable hours with the SMART organization traveling the country in their recreational vehicle.

Betty was preceded in death by her two brothers, Dr. Mark Fitzpatrick and the Honorable Paul Fitzpatrick, a Federal Court Judge. Their eight children are Roy Mark Ragsdale, San Antonio, TX, Maureen Harrington, Lt Col, USAF (retired), Colorado Springs, CO, Pat Beal, Austin TX, Kathy Kennison, Arlington, TX, Michael Ragsdale, Windsor, CA, Beth McCarthy, Milford CT, Daniel Ragsdale, Colonel, US Army (retired), Arlington, VA, Joseph Ragsdale, Charleston, SC. She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

Visitation , 6 p.m. Wednesday, St Patrick Catholic Church, 6455 Brook Park Drive, Rosary, 7 p.m. Wednesday, St Patrick Catholic Church, 6455 Brook Park Drive. Mass of Christian Burial, 10 a.m. Thursday, St Patrick Catholic Church, 6455 Brook Park Drive, Colorado Springs. Private inurnment will take place at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Catholic Charities or to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO.