Ragan William Boling

Ragan William Boling was born in Ragland, AL on 06/17/1930 and died on 08/27/2026 at the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City, AL. He was preceded in death by his wife, Georgia Frieda Gibson Boling and his parents Rev. W.D. and Janie Boling and one brother Dan E. Boling. He is survived by his three children, Cynthia Ramsey (Bill) of Greenville, FL, Timothy Boling Sr. (Barbara) of Pell City, AL, and Gregory Boling of Birmingham, AL. He was blessed with grandchildren – Alicia Rudnik (Sean), Timothy Boling Jr, Rodney Feight, Jared Boling, Jeremy Rutledge, Krystin Roberts (William), Jason Rutledge (Kerrie), Ethan Evans (Taylor), Mahala Brown (William), and Kiana Vandiver (Travis). These grandchildren blessed him with great-grandchildren –including Tiffany, Ryleigh, Nathan, Jonah, Cameron, Aaron, Gavin, Theo, Calvin, Harrison, as well as 1 great-great grandchild. Ragan was very close to many cousins in his family and Freida’s family.

Ragan graduated from Carrollton High School where he played football and basketball and ultimately played golf frequently as an adult. After high school, he obtained his local pastor’s license at the age of seventeen. Ragan enlisted in the US Navy and served 4 years with 2 years stateside and 2 years in Japan. He attended Birmingham-Southern College, graduated from Athens College and ultimately received his course of study from Emory University Chandler School of Theology. Although life always has bumps and turns, he was ordained elder in the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1971. He served churches all over North Alabama following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and step-grandfather. Over the years, no one can count the many sermons, baptisms, marriages, and funerals he officiated with practically everyone he met being counted as family.

He was a member of the Masons, Scottish Rite, York Rite, and the Shriners. Ragan was honored to serve as Chaplain and for a period, Grand Chaplain for the State of Alabama spanning 70 years membership in total.

For approximately 30 years, his superannuate home in Blackburn Court has been his joy! He and Freida completed much of the final work on the home before moving in though they had help from their children and 4 of their grandchildren. The friendships built in that community have been so wonderful for all his family over the years.

Ragan’s wish for being remembered is as the “Tomato Man”. Every summer he went to tomato farms in Blount and St Clair counties to obtain fresh tomatoes. Ragan always returned to Birmingham with a loaded car. He spent numerous days taking tomatoes to almost everyone he knew and loved to share the wonderful taste of a fresh tomato.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Huffman United Methodist Church, 711 Gene Reed Rd Birmingham, AL 35235 or Urban Ministries of Birmingham at urban-ministry.org.