Gail Rinker Ragan - Obituary

ail Rinker Ragan, a 20 year resident of Annapolis died on Sunday, December 10, 2017 from complications of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. She was born on March 18, 1935 in Alexandria, VA to James T. and Grace Mahon Rinker. Following her graduation from Alexandria’s George Washington High School in 1954 she attended Madison College (now James Madison University). Married after her freshman year she remained committed to getting her degree. She moved numerous times with her husband’s career while raising a family and continuing her education at Boston University, the University of Vermont and the University of Maryland. She received her BS from the University of Maryland in 1974. After receiving her degree she worked for several years with the disadvantaged youth programs of Montgomery County before becoming a professional tour guide in Washington, DC. She guided tours in the Washington area and along the east coast. Her tour guiding activities took her to Greece, Cyprus, Mexico and South Africa. Very active in the Guild of Professional Tour Guides, she served on and chaired a number of their committees and was in the first group of five guides awarded the title Master Guide by the Guild. A resident of University Park, MD for over thirty years, she was a Girl Scout leader and served the Riverdale Presbyterian Church as Sunday school teacher, deacon, elder and chaired numerous committees. She loved sports. Voted outstanding athlete (as well as home-coming queen) in high school, she was a five-foot-two-inch freshman starting guard on the Madison College basketball team. She was an avid skier, tennis player, and golfer. Always up for an adventure, Gail climbed the Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico; hiked in the Alps and Andes; made a bob sled run on the Olympic Track at Lake Placid, NY; was detained by a mob at a communist rally after taking a wrong turn in Lima, Peru; piloted a one-man submarine -- among other things. Avidly interested in history and culture, her travels always included the local museums, historic sites, art galleries and evening performances. Gail and her husband traveled to fifty-four countries and most states combining work, exploring and playing golf. They were married 62 years. Gail retired with her husband in 1998 and moved to Heritage Harbour. She and her husband immediately became members of the Calvary United Methodist Church. She continued her interest in tour guiding for several years by serving as a docent at the Paca House. Gail was a member of the Historic Annapolis foundation and was a regular at the St. Johns history series. She was a long-time member of the women’s golf group, “Hole-in-a-Hundred”, that played on courses around the region. Gail is survived by her husband Dr. Robert M. Ragan; son Mark K. Ragan and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Simmons of Edgewater, MD; son Bruce E. Ragan of Monroe, MI; daughter Kathleen Childs of Centennial, CO; twin brother Richard Rinker of Franklyn, TN; sister Robin McFarland of Alexandria, VA; two grandchildren, Dr. Rachel Green of Highlands Ranch, CO and Gabe Ragan Childs of Denver, CO; great granddaughter Violet Grace Green and some wonderful nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 14 at 1 PM at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD where a gathering will follow until 3 PM. Inurnment will be at the Westminster Presbyterian Columbarium in Alexandria, VA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1850 York Rd., Ste. D, Timonium, MD 21093. On line condolences can be made by using the link on the left side of this page.