Charles Buddy Ranson

CHARLES BUDDY RANSON, 91, of Kenna passed away peacefully in his sleep with his son Steve, his daughter Cheryl and his beloved dog Korkie by his side on June 27, 2023.
He was born April 8, 1932, in Charleson, WV, the son of the late Clydus and Dessie Ranson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Carmen, daughter Pam, brothers Carroll "Kayo" Ranson and Jerry Clyde Ranson and sister Viola "Jiggs" Smithson.
Charles is survived by his son Steve Ranson, daughter Cheryl Ranson, granddaughters Alyssa Ranson and Kristen Ranson, his sister Donna Rhodes (Wesley), many nieces and nephews as well as close friends.
Charles was a Korean War veteran, Mason (50 years), Shriner, Shriner band member, former Charleston City Councilman for the seventh ward, Midwestern Little League baseball coach and Umpire, Coach of biddy basketball for YMCA and Coach of YMCA all-star basketball team, member of the Lion's Club, American Legion and a former Merchant Marine.
Charles graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in 1950 where he was on the staff of the school newspaper. He attended WV Tech and WV State.
Charles worked at FMC and OLAN for decades. He designed much of the plant's infrastructure and was such an expert on the lines that the city of South Charleston would contact him when they dug up a line to determine if it was the city's or FMC's system.
Charles donated his body to the West Virginia University Human Gift Registry. True to form, he did not want a fuss made over him and did not want a service. Our loss is great because his love was great.
As a child, Charles used his wagon to haul groceries for people who shopped at the grocery store on West Washington Street. He also collected bleach bottles and milk bottles for recycling.
As a teenager, he loved to roller skate and could dance on skates. Charles also hung out with his buddies in the basement of the local funeral home and rode in the hearse to help retrieve bodies.
In the summer of 1950, Charles and his buddies volunteered to join the Air force during the Korean War. He won a medal for designing a "bomb" that could be used to drop supplies to downed pilots.
Charles married Carmen Harkins in 1954. They were married for 64 years until her passing in 2018.
We have many fond memories of our Father. He took us camping most weekends at Westvaco hunting and fishing club as well as vacations to Myrtle Beach and the Smokey Mountains and, of course, WVU games. He loved to travel and took many trips with Mom and Aunt Gwen and Uncle Charlie Cummings. The stories of their Las Vegas trip are legendary.
Dad loved to fish. He and Steve would play rummy in the camper on their fishing trips to Williams River. Dad let him win. At the age of eight, Steve thought he was the best rummy player in the world. When Dad fished with his daughter Cheryl, he would throw the blue gill he caught back on the bank. Cheryl would sneak behind him and put the fish back in the water. Dad acted like he didn't see her, but he knew- he always knew.
Each year Dad took us to see the nativity scene with live sheep at Bartlett Burdette funeral home. Then he would drive us along Kanawha Boulevard to see the houses that were decorated for the city Christmas lights contest. We would sing Christmas carols. Dad loved to sing. He would stand by the piano and sing while one of us would accompany him. He often sang around the house and on car trips.
Our family would have ice cream at the Valley Bell after piano or dance recitals. Of course, Dad would have a huge banana split. Later years, we would have hot fudge cake at Shoney's after chorus concerts, musicals, and school events. He also took us to the A&W Root Beer stand for root beers. Once when Pam was sick and wouldn't eat or drink, Dad went to the A&W and bought a small A&W root beer mug to try to coax her into drinking something.
Dad took us roller skating. We would watch him spin and jump in the middle of the rink while we skated. Dad also loved to dance. He and Mom went to dances quite often throughout the years.
Dad was an excellent golfer. He played golf with Steve, won many events, and often told us of his countless golf exploits and trips with his golfing buddies.
Our Father was a child of the Depression. Watching his mother give leftovers out the back kitchen door to people who were hungry made an impression on him. He took food to families with many children, donated clothing to the Mountain Mission, gave people money, and sat around the kitchen table with the city garbage collectors having shots and treats for Christmas. He cut grass for the elderly and those unable to take care of their lawns. He instilled in us that no one was better than us and we were not better than others.
Dad loved animals (even though he would act tough like he could take or leave them). He took in strays, and carried his dogs under his jacket so they wouldn't get cold. The look on his face when Alyssa and Kristen brought in a puppy (Korkie) for his Christmas present was priceless. Once he even put insulation on top of his awning because he thought the birds were getting too hot sitting on their eggs in the nests.
Our Father loved and fiercely protected his children. He was there whether it was for school projects or activities, 4-H, piano lessons, guitar lessons, dance lessons, little league, basketball, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts or Rainbow Girls. He supported his son Steve in all his endeavors. Dad taught his daughters that it was ok for women to be smart and strong and stand up for themselves (Not unusual now but not always the case in the sixties and seventies). When his brilliant daughter Pam was graduating from high school, she was counseled to go into teaching or nursing because she excelled at math and science. Dad told her she should investigate chemical engineering. She graduated first in her class in chemical engineering from WVU and later became the first female group leader at Union Carbide Tech Center.
With Dad's heart problems, we did not think he would live to be sixty. Enter Dr. H. James Stanton. Without Dr. Stanton, he would not have lived to be 91. We would like to thank Dr. Stanton for his decades of work with Dad and for extending our Father's life. We treasure the gift of those additional years and moments of grace. We would also like to thank the staff at CAMC Memorial and the Stanton Cardiology Group for Dad's excellent care.
Many thanks also to our Father's neighbors: Michelle, Olivia, Braden and Brandon Sias, and Eva Jean Boggess for watching out for Dad, bringing him food, swinging on the porch swing and brightening his days. He loved watching Olivia, Braden and Brandon play and grow up to be outstanding young women and men.
Charles, Buddy, Bud, Charlie, Coach, ump, councilman, veteran, draftsman, Mason, Shriner, friend, son, grandson, nephew, husband, brother, cousin, uncle, grandfather, Dad- regardless of his title, the world is a better place because he was in it. He is our heart and our hero. He is the leader of our band.
"…He earned his love through discipline, a thundering velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand…"
"…I thank you for the music and your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom when it came my time to go
I thank you for the kindness and the times when you got tough
And papa, I don't think I said I love you near enough
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band
I am a living legacy to the leader of the band"
-Dan Fogelberg