William “Papa Bill” Ransford, 95, went to be with the Lord January 26, 2023. Bill, also known as Martin or Uncle Doc by many of his family and friends, was born in Kingfisher County, Ok in 1927. His parents, Roy and Lillie Ransford, were farmers who taught Bill the value of hard work, which provided a basis for his entire life. Bill was loved by all who met him and he will be greatly missed.
In 1945 he married Imogene Reddout, who preceded him in death after 69 years of marriage. After getting married, Bill worked a number of jobs, including being a roughneck on an oil rig, working on the railroad and a wheat harvester. In 1958 Bill moved his wife and two children from Oklahoma to Southern California to begin a new life. He was hired as a truck driver, delivering lumber to building sites all over Southern California. He became well known as a man who could get a fully loaded truck of lumber into places no one else could and drop his load without damaging a single board. After more than 30 years, Bill retired and he and Imogene moved back to Crescent, Ok. In 2014, they moved to Chattanooga to be near family and to enjoy the remainder of their lives near those who loved them.
Bill’s passion was playing country music on one of his many guitars, mandolins and fiddles. He could often be found in the back room tinkering with his instruments, which gave him great enjoyment. He loved to show off his collection to anyone he met. In his younger days he loved building, driving and sharing the experience with his friends of driving his own dune buggies.
Bill is survived by his son, Ed Ransford (Linda), of Lander, Wy.; and daughter, Rita Faye Cole (Roger), of Chattanooga; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and four brothers.
A memorial service will be at the Tiftonia Baptist Church. The date is yet to be determined. Internment will be in the Knowles Cemetery in Crescent, Ok. at a later date. The family requests memorials be sent to the charity of their choice in Bill’s name.