Otto Raymond Rankin, Jr.

Ray Rankin, 91, of Paragould, died peacefully Wednesday, November 6, 2013, at his residence at Chateau on the Ridge in Paragould, Arkansas. Ray Rankin was born June 26, 1922 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the son of the late Otto and Lucy Mattix Rankin of Jonesboro. He was married to the late Mary Niles Lansdale Rankin for 60 years. She was the love of his life. He was also preceded in death by his brother Quentin Rankin and his sisters, Wilda Green, Edith Thompson, Eunice Rankin and Lucille Greene. He is survived by his two daughters, and their spouses, Karen and Robert Rayunas of Ann Arbor, MI and Kandace and James Smith of Dallas, TX, and two grandchildren, Brittany Jones of Austin, TX and Sam Smith of Dallas, TX. Ray Rankin was a member of the United States Army Air Corp having served during World War II as a C-47 pilot in India and China. He was called to active duty during the Korean War in the United States Air Force and served in Japan. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a B.S. in Geology and a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He retired from the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers after serving in that capacity for many years. Heath Funeral Home will be in charge of graveside services to be held on Saturday, November 9th, 2013 at Memorial Gardens in Paragould, Arkansas at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend John Fleming officiating. Friends and family are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chateau on the Ridge, 2308 Chateau Blvd., Paragould, Arkansas 72450 or Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, 1138 East Matthews Avenue, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401. Sign online guestbook at www.heathfuneralhome.com