January 27, 1928 - April 19, 2011
William K. “Billy” Ruggles age 83 of Arkadelphia died Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at his home. He was born January 27, 1928, in Bearden, AR the son of William Bryan and Mattie Pearl Churchwell Ruggles and grew up in Shover Springs near Hope, AR in his grandparents’ house. The Ruggles family built this house in 1911 and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. He loved the outdoors on the farm where he enjoyed riding his horse, driving cattle, hunting and fishing. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia since 1950 where he was ordained a Deacon in 1953. He helped organize the William Wallace Royal Ambassadors and was R. A. counselor, church training union director and youth camps director. He was a WWII Veteran serving with the 11th Airborne Paratroopers in Japan. He was a graduate of Hope High School where he played football under coach Foy Hammons, a man he greatly respected. He was a 1950 graduate of the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science. He and his wife Ramona are former owners of Murry-Ruggles Funeral Home, now Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home. Billy was past president of the Arkansas Funeral Directors Association, Arkansas Burial Association, Kiwanis Club, former board member of the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Clark County Red Cross, vice-president of Selected Life Insurance Company, and board member of Selected Financial Properties. Billy was preceded in death by his brother Charles Bryan “Jack” Ruggles and one sister, Lucille Ruggles.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years Ramona Putman Ruggles, one son Murry Ruggles and his wife Rhea of Arkadelphia, five grandchildren, Sean and his wife Zabrina, Megan, Jarrod, and Jordon Ruggles all of Arkadelphia, and Jeannie Ruggles Hartsell and her husband Steven of Bismarck, one brother Don Ruggles and his wife Mary of Texarkana, two sisters, Wanda Irvin of Pine Bluff, June Humphries and her husband Truman of Shreveport, and one sister-in-law, Carol Ruggles of North Little Rock.
A memorial service will be 2 PM Thursday, April 21 in First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia with Dr. Lee McGlone officiating. Private entombment will be in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens. It was Billy’s request that his casket be open at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral home from 8 AM to 5 PM Wednesday. There will be no formal visitation. Pallbearers will be Bill Wright, Bill Downs, Don Robert Thompson, Dr. Raouf Halaby, Don Dawley Jr., Randy Garner, Ronnie Echols, Ronnie Clark, and Larry Tucker. Honorary pallbearers are Maddox Branch Hunting Club, Kiwanis Club, Berean Sunday School Class and Funeral Directors. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 623 Pine St., Arkadelphia, AR 71923 or favorite charity.