Donald was born August 3, 1945 in Harrisonville, MO, a son of John Lynn and Thelma Neola (Bell) Ragsdale. He attended Prairie Dell Rural School #71 in Pleasant Hill and was a 1964 graduate of Pleasant Hill High School. Donald was a member and deacon of the Hickory Grove Baptist Church until moving to Harrisonville in 1987. He then became a member of the Harrisonville First Baptist Church. He had farmed all of his life.
Donald is survived by two sisters, Shirley Qualls (Jack), Clinton, MO and Patty Ragsdale, Adrian, MO; niece, Kimberly Beaty (Matt) and nephew, Jackie Qualls (Lisa); great-nieces and great-nephews, Zachary and Samantha Qualls and Lacy and Miranda Beaty.