The Reverend James L. Ranard passed away at his Crawfordsville home on Friday, September 11, 2015. He was born on June 29, 1939 in Owen County Indiana to the late Walter and Lillian (West) Ranard.

Jim graduated from Spencer High School in 1957 and was licensed to the Gospel Ministry that same year. He received pastoral training from Tennessee Temple College and Bible School and the American Divinity School and was ordained by the American Baptist Churches of Indiana in 1962.

Most recently Jim served several years as pastor of Freedom Baptist Church near Waveland. Prior to his retirement Jim had served as an interim for the ABC-IN/KY.

Jim most notably served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Crawforsdville from November 1, 1974 until his retirement on December 28, 1997. While serving in the Crawfordsville area Rev. Ranard was active in the state-wide American Baptist denomination in various capacities: He was a member of the Town & Country Department; Chair of the Church of the Year Awards Program; the Department of Evangelism; the Missionary Promotions Department; the Indiana Baptist Minister's Council; vice-president of the state denomination and as president of the ABC-IN in 1989-90. He served as leader of the Executive Committee and Board of Managers during his tenure as president. In 1978 under his guidance FBC Crawfordsville hosted the annual state convention for ABC-IN and in 1981 he gave the annual sermon for the ABC-IN state convention at Lynhurst Baptist Church in Indianapolis.

Jim was active in the national denomination of American Baptist Churches – USA as well. In 1985 he represented his denomination at the International Prayer Conference for World Evangelization held in Seoul, South Korea. During the travel home he visited missionaries in Hong Kong and made stops through China, Macao and Japan.

Rev. Ranard was very active in mission work. He traveled with, conducted and planned for multiple short-term mission trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Prior to coming to Crawfordsville, Jim was pastor of the Barboursville Baptist Church in Barboursville, West Virginia. While there he was elected Secretary and Treasurer of the West Virginia Baptist Ministers' Council, Secretary of the Committee on Ordination of the Guyandotte Baptist Association, and chaplain of the Greater Huntington Chapter of the Sertoma International at Huntington, West Virginia. During his 53 years of ministry he also served as pastor around the state of Indiana including the New Providence Baptist Church near Cloverdale, IN, The First Baptist Church of Fulton, IN, and the First Baptist Church of Rushville, IN.

Of the many opportunities for ministry for Jim, his heart pursued the people he served and their needs. Jim Ranard was the face of the Shepherd to His people.

Jim was not only a servant of the Lord, but he loved God's creatures and nature. He had owned horses his entire life and enjoyed riding and caring for them up to his last hour. One of Jim's most treasured destinations was Brown County State Park where he spent many hours over the years riding his horses.

Jim is survived by his wife, Linda; his children: Ellen (John) Dunaway of Indianapolis; JR (Kelly) Ranard of Crawfordsville; David (Kim) Ranard of Crawfordsville; Symone (Tim) Gray of Waveland, IN; Alyssa (Shane) Powell of Lafayette, IN; and Michael Spear of Carbondale, IL. He is also survived by 22 grand children and 21 great-grand children. In addition to his parents, Jim is preceded in death by a son, Marc Spear; his siblings, Wilma Sanburn, Jack Ranard and Steve Ranard.

Services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Crawfordsville on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 10:00 AM. Visitation will be at the church from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, September 15, 2015. Interment will be at the Freedom Cemetery near Waveland, IN following the services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ray of Hope Medical Missions, Inc., 4107 Gallmeyer Ct., Fort Wayne, IN 46835. Envelopes will be available at the church.