RONALD ANTHONY "RON" RAGGHIANTI
May 29, 1942 — May 27, 2008
RONALD ANTHONY "RON" RAGGHIANTI, resident of Bartlett, retired detective for the Sheriff's Department and husband of the former Shirley Glover Thomas, native of Somerville, died at 1:12 A.M. Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at his residence where he had resided for 15 years. He was 65 years of age and died following an extended illness.
Funeral services for Mr. Ragghianti were conduced at 3 P.M. Friday, May 30th at the Graveside with Frank Maccarino, retired Chaplain of the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, officiating. Interment with Military Honors and special recognition by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department followed in the Somerville City Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Home-West Chapel of Oakland.
Mr. Ragghianti was born May 29, 1942 in Memphis, the son of the late Louis Peter Ragghianti and Dolores Lee Ragghianti. He was educated in private parochial schools in Memphis and served in the United States Army during the war period with a double tour in Germany for six years.
Mr. Ragghianti was a longtime employee of the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and retired as Detective for the organization in 1993 for health reasons. He was a recipient of a heart transplant eleven years ago. He was married October 20, 1996 to the former Shirley Glover Thomas, a native of Fayette County, who survives.
Mr. Ragghianti will be remembered as a person devoted to law enforcement activities and protecting the lives of others. He enjoyed water sport activities that included skiing and boating as long as health permitted and was a lifelong resident of Memphis. He enjoyed animals and had a special love for his pet dog "Cody".
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two step-daughters, Cindy Thomas of Rock Springs, WY and Leanne Thomas of Denver, CO; two sisters, Joyce Armstrong of Fort Lauderdale, FL and Debra Lamar of Millington; one granddaughter, Latisha Dunham and two great-grandsons, Kaleb Neigenfind and Andrew Dunham.
Those honored to serve as active and honorary casketbearers were active and retired members of the Shelby County Sheriff's Department that included Ronnie Goodwin, J.W. Houston, Jack Miser, Larry Phelps, Eddie Scallions and Travis Taylor.
The family request that Memorials be directed to the Shelby or Fayette County Chapters of the American Heart Association, 1-800-242-8721.