Rev. Ralph Gowdy Ranney

OKLAHOMA CITY - Ralph G. Ranney, age 88, passed away on May 26, 2022. He was the husband of Shirley Brantingham Ranney. They shared 65+ years of marriage. They loved traveling, collecting antiques, and family celebrations with their children, grandchildren, and great‐grandchildren. Also, each new great‐grandchild filled them with joy and excitement.Ralph was born in Monmouth, IL, on March 12, 1934. He was the youngest of Glen J. Ranney and Dorothy Moulder Ranney. He attended Monmouth public schools, graduating from Monmouth High School in 1952. He graduated from Monmouth College in 1956 before attending Pittsburgh‐Xenia Theological Seminary where he earned his Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Divinity degrees in 1959. He was ordained to the Ministry of the Gospel on June 14, 1959, by the Presbytery of Pittsburgh. After which time Ralph pastored Farmington Presbyterian Church (1959‐1963), Community Presbyterian Church of Lombard, IL (1963‐1972), First Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City, OK (1972‐1980), and St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City, OK (1980‐ 2000). He served as interim pastor of Mayflower Congregational Church (2000‐2001), Pastor of First Christian Church of Geary, OK (2002‐2009) and, completing his ministry, pastor of Memorial Christian Church in Oklahoma City, OK (2010‐February 2022).He had been a member of Peoria, Chicago, and Indian Nations presbyteries, often serving in leadership capacities. He also was a member of MId-America Fellowship of congregationalist (NACC). He loved working with young people, leading mission trips for college and high school ages in Mexico and Yucatan and attending Conferences in Colorado and New Mexico. He was an organizer of the Logos Programs Inc. He enjoyed continuing education programs in Germany, Israel, and Nova Scotia. He was a member of Rotary International in Farmington, IL, Oklahoma City, and Geary, OK, where he served as President.Ralph dedicated his life to leading people of all ages to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.He is survived by his wife Shirley; and his children David G. Ranney (Darbi Williams), R. Stephen Ranney (SoRay Carter) and Debra Ranney Shaw (Steve Shaw); grandchildren: Blake Ranney (Rachel Ranney), Rockford Ranney (Kimari Ranney), Cole Ranney, and D. Cooper Ranney (Sydney Ranney), Stephen Marshall Ranney, Krystal Black (Mark Black), Alexa Ranney, Brant Ranney (Aylin Ranney), Baylee Ranney, Derek Myers (Ruonan Myers), Austin Myers, Parker Bingenheimer (Collette Reandeau), and Brody Stewart; and 13 great grandchildren.The memorial Service will be held on Thursday June 2, 2022, at 10:00 AM at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home 14624 N. May Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134.Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made the Memorial Christian Church 1915 N. Meridian Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73107