Delbert Leon Ragsdale was born in Chandler, Oklahoma on April 14, 1936 to O.E. and Irene Ragsdale. He moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1941. Leon attended Park Elementary and Clinton Junior High. He graduated from Daniel Webster High School in 1954. He loved playing basketball, participated in the Junior Cabinet, and was a member of the yearbook staff.
Leon attended the University of Tulsa. He studied engineering while he was there. He would later transfer to Oklahoma State University and receive a B.A. in Architectural Design in 1960. Leon was a talented student and was asked a few years after graduation to design a building on the OSU campus.
Leon married in 1958. With that union, he had two daughters, Tia and Kim.
Leon was a "workaholic." He easily worked 70 hours a week and continued to practice architecture until a few months before his passing. For most of his career, he was self-employed and ran his firm, the Architectural Collective. Leon's designs are timeless. He was known for his forward thinking solar energy designs, and he designed hundreds of churches and buildings in Oklahoma, throughout the U.S., and even internationally. Leon was a member of the American Institute of Architects and served as the president of the Oklahoma chapter.
In addition to practicing architecture, Leon was a realtor, artist, and writer. He penned over 70 manuscripts and had just recently started publishing them. He owned art galleries, and his creations included paintings and stained-glass windows.
Leon was a spiritual man. He taught Sunday School and Training Union. He also served as a Deacon at Trinity Baptist Church. He was a member of the choir and often sang solos. Leon held his own Bible studies for many years and was a guest lecturer at various churches throughout the community.
Leon passed away on May 23, 2022 at the age of 86. He was a caring son, cherished brother, loving father and Pa Pa, sweet companion, and blessed by many that called him friend.