Charles "Charlie" D. Ragland

In Memory of Charles D. Ragland Charlie was born in Houston, Texas on July 27, 1941, and passed away in Cocoa Beach on October 16, 2020. Charlie died suddenly and peacefully in his sleep after months of fighting health issues. Charlie came to Cocoa Beach in 1969 as Vice President of Piccadilly Cafeterias - opening the Piccadilly Cafeteria in the Merritt Square Mall. It was during this time that he first met Rusty Fischer of Bernard’s Surf. Charlie moved to Brevard County in 1971 and went to work for Rusty and Bernard’s Surf. This was the start of a long and wonderful partnership as General Manager / Vice President and eventually Partner. He truly impacted in the Rusty’s organization - first at Bernard’s Surf and later opening and running Rusty’s Raw Bar in Cocoa Beach and Rusty’s at the Port - until his retirement in 2006. Charlie was very active in the Cocoa Beach Community: as Board Member of the Cape Canaveral Hospital District and the Health First Foundation; Member and Past President of the Cocoa Beach Rotary; Member of the Cocoa Beach Elks; Board Member of the Freedom 7 Senior Center; and Past Deacon and Elder of Riverside Presbyterian Church. He was honored with the appointment as Interim Canaveral Port Authority Commissioner in May 2008 to 2009. He was able to make a difference in his short time in office. To his last days, Charlie’s heart was always with the Fischer Family and the Rusty’s Family. Thank you for always keeping him as “part of the family.” Charlie and his wife, Nancy, spent the last few years traveling around this beautiful country in their motorhome, making some wonderful memories. Charlie was predeceased by his parents, Virgil (Griff) and Gene Ragland, his sister, Ann Ragland Redburn, and his son, William (Bill) Ragland. Left behind to mourn his passing are Nancy, his wife of 35 years, his son, Dwayne, his daughter, Beverly (Steve) and his 2 special kitties, Lilly and Gracie. He also leaves behind 3 grandchildren (Andrea, Lance and Colby), 5 great grandchildren (Shea, Kailynn, Maddie, Rhett and Lawson), 2 nephews, Brad (Nicole) and Benny (Nancy), a niece, Barbi (Stanley) and his brother-in-law, David. Also left behind are his Challenger RV Family, his Yankee RV Tours Family, and many, many friends and acquaintances in Brevard County. Charlie was known and loved by everyone he met! Charlie “never met a stranger, only friends he hadn’t met yet.” Services will be held on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 1:00 pm at Riverside Presbyterian Church in Cocoa Beach. A celebration will follow at Rusty’s Seafood & Oyster Bar at Port Canaveral. Please - no Flowers! Bring your best Charlie stories!! If you’d like to do something in Charlie’s memory, please make donations to the SPCA of Brevard, 6035 Sisson Road, Titusville, FL. 32780.