Donald Ranney
Donald Lester Ranney, son, brother, husband, father and friend, passed away, after accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, on August 30, 2025. At the end, he was surrounded with love and with his never-ending sense of humor intact. “Donnie” was one of five boys who grew up among the orange groves in Pomona California during the Great Depression and World War II. While attending Pomona High School, he began dating the love of his life, Prudence “Prudy” Ricca, and they married on September 12, 1953. Don enlisted in the Air Force and served overseas as an air traffic controller in the aftermath of the Korean conflict. Upon returning he embarked on a surveying career with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Don and Prudy lovingly raised four children in Pomona and La Verne, three handsome boys and a beautiful girl. The family delighted in taking vacations in the mountains and beaches of Southern California. Later in their in their lives Don and Prudy enjoyed RV camping and square dancing. In 1985 Prudy was prematurely taken away by cancer. Don met his second wife, Kathleen (Ablitt) Carter in 1987, settling in Santa Barbara. They enjoyed many years traveling the world and hosting guests at their beautifully landscaped home. Don was also a 63-year member of the Elks (Lodge 789 Pomona and 613 Santa Barbara).
When he was 14, Don won “Best in State” in the Milton Bradley Company’s “America The Beautiful” student art contest and his painting traveled to the nation’s leading museums and teacher’s colleges. He pursued his artistic endeavors in Santa Barbara and was invited into the Santa Barbara Art Association, where he served on the board. In 2024 Don relocated to Maravilla in Goleta. His smile and laugh were infectious to all who met him.
Don was preceded in death by his father Lester Harold and mother Edna Mae (Hinchy); his four brothers Ross, Earl, Dale, and twin Doug. He is survived by his children, Wayne (Helen), Flagstaff, Arizona; Brian (Kimberly), Rancho Cucamonga; Craig (Bridget), San Marcos; and Laura (Thomas), San Diego; his grandchildren, Vanessa, Jessica, John, Nicole, and Stephanie; and great-grandchildren James, Colton, Olivia, and Jack. His step family includes wife, Kathleen; children James (Carolyn), Jenifer Beatty (Richard), and Lindsay (Jennifer); and grandchildren Carter, Julia, Alex, Matthew, Harrison, Aiden, and Sammy.
Don requests that memorials in his honor be directed to the Santa Barbara Art Association.
