Robert "Bob" Warrington Ragin II

Robert “Bob” Warrington Ragin, II, husband of Mary C. Ragin, who passed away on May 10th, 2024.

Mr. Ragin was born on July 5, 1934, in Orlando, FL, the son of Andrew Patterson Ragin and Carolyn Mason Ragin. The family moved to Columbia, SC in September 1941. While at Episcopal camp as a child, he learned of God, Jesus, and the Bible.

While as a child of eleven he saw his siblings almost drown in a local pond, fortunately an army soldier saved them. While a member of the Boy Scouts, he earned the Life Saving Badge as part of becoming an Eagle Scout. This life experience encouraged him to be a lifeguard for two summers and teach swimming and lifesaving to a substantial number of young people. He was on the USC Swim Team and was awarded the Block “C” letter. In February 1951 he joined the US Army at the age of sixteen and completed Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC. After completing Airborne training, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, NC. In 1952 he was reassigned to the 25th Infantry Division, 27th Infantry Wolfhound Regiment, Korea. Awarded the Combat Infantry Badge during the Korean War for combat service and returned home in 1953 as a Sergeant First Class only 18 years old. Married September 9, 1954, to the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Culler, daughter of Michael S. and Ernestine P. Culler. From this union they had four children: Andrew P. Ragin (Andrea), Diane R. Masciale (Frank), Melinda R. Cauthen (Bret) and Karen R. Burch (Brec).

In February 1954 he was admitted to the University of South Carolina as a Korean War Veteran. Via his GI Bill Benefits he earned a BS Degree in Accounting. His graduation class was 525 students and the commencement speaker was Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy, later President of the United States. After graduation in 1957 he was Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserve and served 12 years retiring at the rank of Captain.

While attending college he worked part time with the City of Columbia in the Tax Assessor’s office. After graduation he was appointed as the Deputy Assessor and in 1962 was appointed Richland County Assessor. During his tenure he completed the first county wide reassessment program in SC and the first city-county wide property tax billing and collection system.

In 1966 Charleston County recruited him to become the new County Tax Assessor where he served until his retirement in 1985. During his tenure he implemented many innovative and successful improvements to the assessment process. This includes training programs for staff, development of a digitized Tax Mapping system, consolidation of real estate data regarding values, taxes, and billing as well as the successful completion of three major county wide property reassessment programs.

In recognition of his efforts, Ragin received the best “Idea” award from the International Association of Assessing Officers . This award was for the development of the Reassessment Notice Program which is still used today. He also received the President’s Cup from the SC Association of Counties in recognition of leadership in the development and promotion of County Government. Served as President of the following organizations: SC Association of Assessing Officials, County Assessor’s Association, Middleton Hunting Club (member 22 years), Charleston Tennis Club and Creekside Park Homeowners Association.

An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, he has been involved in many efforts to promote and save our natural resources. He was instrumental in obtaining a perpetual wildlife easement for a 14-acre park in the Village of Sugar Mountain by political action, fundraising and personal effort. In recognition of his actions, Ragin received the “Conservationist of the Year” award from the High-Country Conservancy. Ragin felt that this endeavor was one of his proudest achievements to have been a part of preserving a tract of land in perpetuity for the public to always enjoy the use, beauty, and wildlife. As to community involvement he was a Trustee for the Grandfather Children’s Home in Banner Elk, NC. Former member of the Rotary Club of Charleston for 25 years and became a Paul Harris Fellow. Former member of the German Friendly Society, the Hibernian Society and current member of the Huguenot Society.

Mr. Ragin is survived by, four children, twelve grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild: Son, Andrew ‘Pat’ Ragin (Andrea) in Atlanta, Ga., daughters Diane R. Masciale (Frank) in Orlando, Fl., Melinda R. Cauthen (J. Bret) in Mt. Pleasant and Karen R. Burch (Brec) in Harrison, TN. The twelve grandchildren are: Jonathan S. Lindvig (Summer), Emily L. Smith, Bryan Lindvig, Vincent Masciale, Franc Masciale, Marc Ragin (Carol), Michelle R. Philabaum (Rick), Benjamin Ragin (Cara), Jeremy Cauthen, Jordan C. Culbreth (John Keith), James Burch (Andrea) and Will Burch (Taylor). Also, seventeen great grandchildren: Leala Sykes Orr (Lucas), Elyse Lindvig, Sanders Lindvig, Brooke Philabaum, Nora Philabaum, Chase Philabaum, Sara Beth Ragin, Caroline Ragin, Jango Culbreth, and June Culbreth, Emma Ragin, Atley Burch, and Liam Burch, Brec Burch and Caroline Burch, Irving Masciale and Franck Masciale. His great, great grandchild is Evelyn Orr. He is survived by his brother Michael Lee Ragin in Columbia, SC Ragin will be interned next to his wife of 69 years at Mt Pleasant Gardens Cemetery.

His Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, April 16, 2025 in the J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road at 10:00 am. The family will receive friends an hour before the service.

A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.