Carol's Kitchen Co-Founder James "Jim" Ragan Dies at Age 74 in Colton

James P. Ragan, co-founder of the charity Carol's Kitchen, died Monday Nov. 7, 2011, at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, according to Bobbitt Memorial Chapel of San Bernardino and coroner's officials. He was 74.

Ragan was born April 14, 1937, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Michael and Elizabeth Ragan. Later, he, his parents and his two older brothers, Dick and Peter, moved to Edgemont, Washington.

He attended Fife High School, played quarterback and punter for the football team and was a competitive swimmer and diver as well.

The day after his high school graduation, Ragan enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed in Barstow, where he met his wife of 54 years, Arlene.

Ragan played quarterback for the USMC football team and has maintained friendships to this day with several of his Corps buddies, according to his family.

He was honorably discharged from the USMC, and attended San Bernardino Valley College and quarterbacked the football team.

He graduated with a B.S. from Loma Linda School of Physical Therapy as a Registered Physical Therapist and later became certified in Electromyography.

He became the Chief Physical Therapist and Director of Rehabilitation Services at San Bernardino Community Hospital, Ballard Rehabilitation Center.

In 1978 he started his private Physical Therapy practice in San Bernardino and teamed with Jim Ferguson from 1995 until his retirement in 2009.

He was an avid sportsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, snow skiing, camping, cycling, tennis, boating and waterskiing.

Ragan was a family man having provided for his wife and family while living in Barstow for 3 years, Colton for 8 years, San Bernardino for 22 years, and then in Cherry Valley and Beaumont for 21 years.

He was a devoted Catholic, attending the parishes of Holy Rosary, St. Joseph the Worker and Blessed Kateri Tekawitha. Throughout 42 years of living in the Inland Empire, Jim and Arlene Ragan devoted many hours to charitable and civic causes.

He is survived by his wife Arlene, son Patrick and his wife Julia, grandchildren Rachael, Rhiannon, James-Patrick and Jake and great grandson, Tanner. He was preceded in death by his loving daughter, Carol Kathleen, and in honor of her memory Jim and Arlene Ragan founded Carol’s Kitchen to help feed and clothe the needy in the San Gorgonio Pass area.

Mass of Catholic Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Nov. 11, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 10816 Mountain View Ave., Loma Linda. Interment will follow at Mt. View Cemetery, San Bernardino.

Condolences may be sent on-line at www.bobbitchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to Carol’s Kitchen, Inc., P.O. Box 364, Calimesa, Ca. 92320.