Obituary for Susan Ragsdale King
Susan Ragsdale King died early in the morning of April 16, 2022. The Simpsonville, SC resident was 63 years old.
Susan was born in Easley, SC and grew up in Spartanburg. After graduating with Honors from Spartanburg High School, she attended the College of Charleston where she graduated in 1980 with a degree in Special Education. She left that career to study at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she completed her Physical Therapy degree in 1988. Susan then practiced PT at MUSC for 16 years. She was respected and beloved among her patients and colleagues. Susan retired from MUSC to establish her own practice in West Ashley, and then later in Landrum, SC. Again, she was welcomed by the communities she served, offering a combination of Physical Therapy and Pilates.
In addition to her career, she was a voracious reader. Her daughter fondly remembers the regular trips to the library and book store where they would return home with bag-fulls of books. She accumulated so many books and those were often gifted with love to friends and family. One of the hardest things about her getting sick was the inability to hold a book up and concentrate on it.
Susan is survived by her daughter, Kelly King Gainey (Jason) and four grandchildren, Solomon, Shepherd, Elias, and Harriet of Simpsonville, SC; and her brother David Ragsdale of Spartanburg, SC. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lane and Carolyn Ragsdale, and her sister-in-law and friend, Jenni King Moore.
During her last 15 months of life, when she was battling pancreatic cancer, Susan lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Kelly and Jason Gainey, in Simpsonville, SC. With their loving care, she was able to enjoy her last months. She enjoyed the company of her four grandchildren with whom she had a joyous and playful relationship. When asked what their favorite times were with their Nana, they responded, “collecting and studying rocks, watching movies in her bed, making up silly stories, and just talking with her (when they were supposed to be getting ready for bed).” There, she was also able to maintain her relationships with her many dear friends, some of whom were fortunate to have stayed close to her for 30, 40, or 50 years.
Susan King’s patients remember her as a gifted healer, who could solve their problems with chronic pain. Susan was always innovating her practice. She even invented a new method of cupping, called Cup and Release, for which she holds the patent. This invention brought pain relief for many of her own patients, as well as the patients of other physical therapists.
Her many close friends remember Susan as a brilliant thinker, who was always adventurous and fun-loving. Lori Nicholson, her coworker and friend from Charleston, SC said this of her; “Susan was an innovative, think outside the box therapist who dedicated her career to helping patients with chronic pain. We called her “Dr. King” and legendary. She was a master story-teller.” Her friend Phaye Poliakoff-Chen said, “Her profound insights were often couched in witticisms.” Another long time friend, Page Copley Rogers, also remembered her as “smart and funny.” And her ex-husband, David King, spoke of the fierceness of her friendship and loyalty, saying, “She may have been my ex-wife, but she was one of my best friends.”
A service will be held on April 21, 2022 at 2 pm, at St. Christopher Episcopal Church in Spartanburg, SC. In addition, a memorial service celebrating Susan’s life will follow on Saturday, April 23rd, 2022, at 2pm, at Second Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Susan may be directed to Pancreatic Cancer Research at the Pancreatic Cancer Research Network (PanCAN) or to the Spartanburg Regional Hospital Hospice Home.
Susan was born in Easley, SC and grew up in Spartanburg. After graduating with Honors from Spartanburg High School, she attended the College of Charleston where she graduated in 1980 with a degree in Special Education. She left that career to study at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she completed her Physical Therapy degree in 1988. Susan then practiced PT at MUSC for 16 years. She was respected and beloved among her patients and colleagues. Susan retired from MUSC to establish her own practice in West Ashley, and then later in Landrum, SC. Again, she was welcomed by the communities she served, offering a combination of Physical Therapy and Pilates.
In addition to her career, she was a voracious reader. Her daughter fondly remembers the regular trips to the library and book store where they would return home with bag-fulls of books. She accumulated so many books and those were often gifted with love to friends and family. One of the hardest things about her getting sick was the inability to hold a book up and concentrate on it.
Susan is survived by her daughter, Kelly King Gainey (Jason) and four grandchildren, Solomon, Shepherd, Elias, and Harriet of Simpsonville, SC; and her brother David Ragsdale of Spartanburg, SC. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lane and Carolyn Ragsdale, and her sister-in-law and friend, Jenni King Moore.
During her last 15 months of life, when she was battling pancreatic cancer, Susan lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Kelly and Jason Gainey, in Simpsonville, SC. With their loving care, she was able to enjoy her last months. She enjoyed the company of her four grandchildren with whom she had a joyous and playful relationship. When asked what their favorite times were with their Nana, they responded, “collecting and studying rocks, watching movies in her bed, making up silly stories, and just talking with her (when they were supposed to be getting ready for bed).” There, she was also able to maintain her relationships with her many dear friends, some of whom were fortunate to have stayed close to her for 30, 40, or 50 years.
Susan King’s patients remember her as a gifted healer, who could solve their problems with chronic pain. Susan was always innovating her practice. She even invented a new method of cupping, called Cup and Release, for which she holds the patent. This invention brought pain relief for many of her own patients, as well as the patients of other physical therapists.
Her many close friends remember Susan as a brilliant thinker, who was always adventurous and fun-loving. Lori Nicholson, her coworker and friend from Charleston, SC said this of her; “Susan was an innovative, think outside the box therapist who dedicated her career to helping patients with chronic pain. We called her “Dr. King” and legendary. She was a master story-teller.” Her friend Phaye Poliakoff-Chen said, “Her profound insights were often couched in witticisms.” Another long time friend, Page Copley Rogers, also remembered her as “smart and funny.” And her ex-husband, David King, spoke of the fierceness of her friendship and loyalty, saying, “She may have been my ex-wife, but she was one of my best friends.”
A service will be held on April 21, 2022 at 2 pm, at St. Christopher Episcopal Church in Spartanburg, SC. In addition, a memorial service celebrating Susan’s life will follow on Saturday, April 23rd, 2022, at 2pm, at Second Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Susan may be directed to Pancreatic Cancer Research at the Pancreatic Cancer Research Network (PanCAN) or to the Spartanburg Regional Hospital Hospice Home.