Funeral services for Dr. Carleton D. Ranney, 90, of Leland will be at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, February 18 at Leland United Methodist Church. He passed away Thursday, February 15, 2018 at Select Specialty Hospitals of Jackson. Burial will be in the Leland-Stoneville Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Leland.
Dave as many had come to know him as had been under care for Respiratory, Kidney and Heart Failure.
Dave was born in Jackson, Minnesota, his parents moved to Los Angeles, California where they were with other family member’s raising chickens and had an Orange Orchard. He later was called in the military where he joined the U.S Airforce and went to Lakeland Airforce Base in San Antonio Texas. He married in 1949 to Mary Kathryn Ransleben then retired his military service the same year. They both moved to California where they worked and went to college. Dave and Mary later visited some friends in College Station Texas and was so impressed with the college and faculty he decided to attend and pursue his personal future career goals. He later graduated with his masters in 1954 and his PhD in 1956. While a student at Texas A&M Dave became employed part time with the U.S. Government in the Agriculture Department. He continued his career with U.S. Government Area Director for Agriculture Research Service (ARS) a division of the USDA. He then went to work for Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Experiment Station as the assistant director at the Stoneville location where he retired with the State April 1994.
He is preceded in death by his parents Carleton Orion and Ada Elizabeth Ranney. He is survived by his wife Mary Kathryn Ranney of 69 years; his son, David C Ranney and his wife, Karen L Ranney; his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Ranney and grandson, Vincent A. Russo. Dave also leaves behind his sister in law, Geraldine Pianta and several nieces and nephews.
There will be a visitation one hour prior to the services at the church. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made in Dave’s name to The Boy Scouts of America.