Edward Harris Rankin

Edward Harris Rankin obituary, Stillwater, OK

Edward Harris Rankin

Edward Rankin Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Sep. 23, 2025.
Edward 'Ed' Harris Rankin (November 17, 1936 � September 19, 2025) passed away peacefully in Oklahoma City at Integris Hospice House after suffering a stroke on September 6th at Legacy Retirement Village in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Ed was born in Berkeley, California, to Sheldon Stevens Rankin (1906-2001) and Marion Ivy (Harris) Rankin (1902-1986). In 1969, he married Kara Lynn Kinnick (b. 1944); they have one child, David Bruce Rankin (b. 1975), who lives with spouse Alexandra Goncalves Pena and their children Eva and Lucas in Brooklyn, New York.

A lifelong learner, Ed collected numerous degrees, starting with his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with Honors from the University of Pacific in Stockton, California in 1958; he then graduated from Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 1961, with a Master's of Divinity and was ordained as an Episcopal priest that same year.

He earned a Master's degree in philosophy from Oklahoma State University ("OSU") in 1969 and another Master's degree in education from the University of Oregon in 1970. He received a Doctorate of Theology from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1987.

Ed was also a pastor and educator. He served as the Episcopal Chaplain at OSU 1962-1969, and became vicar to missions in Gardiner and Florence, Oregon from 1971-1973. St. Stephen's Episcopal Parish in Portland Oregon called Ed as its rector from 1973 to 1980.

He found a permanent work home in Vancouver, Washington at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, where he worked from 1980 to 2000 when he retired. While at St. Luke's, he took pride in the community he nurtured and the groups he supported.

In addition to his ordained ministry, Ed served on the Vancouver Public School Board for 20 years. During his tenure on the board, the school district built approximately � a billion dollars of construction in astute anticipation of the region's growth.

As a co-founder of the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, Ed considered that achievement as one of his most successful and meaningful endeavors. Established in 1990, the clinic offers free healthcare to all. Last year the Clinic had more than 300 volunteer healthcare professionals who helped over 4,000 patients.

While not working, Ed enjoyed reading, photography, the Rotary Club, growing flowers, traveling with Kara Lynn, and looking after a long assortment of feline companions.

Ed's wife of 56 years, Kara Lynn Kinnick, his son David Rankin (Alexandra), and his grandchildren, Eva Lucia Pena Rankin and Lucas Ignacio Pena Rankin survive him. His parents, his brother Richard Jimmy Rankin (1931-2019), dozens of orchids, and many Abyssinian cats predeceased him.

Memorials for Ed will take place on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 2:00 pm in the Ballroom at Legacy Retirement Village, 5601 N. Washington Street in Stillwater Oklahoma. A West Coast memorial will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 2:00 pm at The Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes St, Vancouver, WA 98661.

Should his memory move you, he requested donations be made to the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington or the charity of your choice.

https://freeclinics.ejoinme.org/MyPages/DonationPage/tabid/104720/Default.aspx

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Sign Edward Rankin's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

September 28, 2025

Geiger Edri posted to the memorial.

September 28, 2025

John Moss posted to the memorial.

September 27, 2025

Jack Nasworthy posted to the memorial.

14 Entries

Geiger Edri

September 28, 2025

I miss him so very much... loved his sense of humor, his intellect and wisdom that filled our deep conversations.

John Moss

September 28, 2025

Ed was a great neighbor and a wonderful person. Always loved his Daffodils coming up early each Spring.

Jack Nasworthy

September 27, 2025

I will miss having lunch with you at Legacy Village Stillwater.
Always lots of conversations.
Jack Nasworthy.

Annette Arnold -Boyd

September 25, 2025

I met Ed and family Aug. of 1976. He supported me through a difficult ordination process and married Scott and me. He asked me to do church school, which I did and years later Ed asked me to do Hispanic ministry at lunch. That was his favorite time to ask people to do things. We had many phone calls and always had to update the well being of our cats. Ed was always kind, generous and for treating people justly. Ed is greatly missed.

Carl Tennille

September 25, 2025

Ed and I started at Oklahoma State 63 years ago, me as a dumb 17 year old freshman and Ed in his first year as the Episcopal Chaplin to students at OSU. That was the start of a close and personal relationship that saw me as his best man in 1969 when he married Kara Lynn. He married my wife and I in 1977. Though we were separated by distance we remained close, and I considered him to be one of my closest friends. He will be deeply missed, not just by his family, but by the hundreds, no thousands of individuals he touched over his life. Well done, Ed! May God´s grace comfort and strengthen Kara Lynn and the family in this time of grief and sorrow.
Carl Tennille

Laurie Kilbourn

September 25, 2025

When I was little, I looked up to my godfather, Ed Rankin, as the sort of person I wanted to be when I grew up. As adults, I counted Ed as a friend, a fellow servant of cats (and other creatures) and a resource on how to navigate the Episcopal landscape. He was kind, clear, a cat person like no other, and so helpful around St. Stephen´s stuff. He was wonderfully loved and is terribly missed! Heartfelt sympathies to Kara Lynn, Dave & Alex, Eva & Lucas, and of course Jay and Ed's many friends and neighbors, who felt Ed's love too! For what it's worth, this would've been posted much sooner, except the two demanding felines insisting on playtime.

Arliss Moll

September 25, 2025

Kata Lynn, we are sorry to hear of Ed´s passing. You had a long and blessed life with him. Carl and Arliss Moll

Joan and Keith Hackett

September 24, 2025

We have very fond memories of Ed Rankin who recruited and welcomed Columbia Pastoral Counseling Center into the basement of St. Luke´s Episcopal Church in 1983 where we happily remained for the next thirty years. He was our benevolent landlord, and we used the Parish Hall for Annual Dinners each year and the Sanctuary for Annual Choir Concerts too.
We remember that Ed often tried to recruit us as Methodists back to `Mother Church´ which of course John Wesley never left.
David and our daughter Joanne went through school together.
Rev. Keith and Joan Hackett Columbia Pastoral Counseling Center

Paul Tullier

September 24, 2025

Kara Lynn, I´m so sorry to hear of Ed´s passing. I always enjoyed our conversations. You and David are in our prayers.

Shannon Sanford

September 24, 2025

I will miss Fr. Ed Rankin a great deal. My experiences at St. Luke´s Episcopal Church in Vancouver,WA, and discussions with Fr. Ed eventually led to my becoming a member of The Episcopal Church. Ed was a good friend and mentor for much of my adult life, for which will be forever grateful.

Shannon Sanford

Donna Greene

September 24, 2025

I will always remember seeing him stand in the parish hall of St Luke´s during coffee hour watching the congregation with a smile of love for his "family". He was a great supporter of youth and children and those with special needs. He´ll always be remembered with love.

Janiece Distin

September 24, 2025

I will miss Ed´s great stories, his grilled lamb and other culinary creations, his photography skills (years of taking candid and posed pics of family get togethers), his zest for life and loving nature and, from a fellow feline fanatic, his love of cats.

Johnpaul Osorio

September 24, 2025

Ed you were beloved and will be missed dearly. We thank you for your generosity of spirit in the times we shared together.
Jp and Family

Debbie Campbell

September 23, 2025

I learned a lot attending church where Ed served. He was very nice and knowledgeable. A very good man.

Showing 1 - 14 of 14 results

National Cremation Society - Virginia Beach

1110 North Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Make a Donation
in Edward Rankin's name

Please consider a donation as requested by the family.

How to support Edward's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Edward Rankin's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more

Sign Edward Rankin's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

September 28, 2025

Geiger Edri posted to the memorial.

September 28, 2025

John Moss posted to the memorial.

September 27, 2025

Jack Nasworthy posted to the memorial.