Kioke Jesse Ringo

Kioke Jesse Ringo, of Lafayette, went to be with his Savior in Heaven on December 30, 2022 at the age of 72, after a courageous battle with ALS. He was born on February 27, 1950, in Beaumont, Texas. Kioke moved around a lot as a child, but ultimately he moved to Bogalusa, Louisiana at the age of 13 and graduated from Bogalusa High School in 1968. It was in Bogalusa where he met and married Sharon Galloway Ringo, his wife of 51 years. Kioke graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1972 with a degree in English and served as President of the Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity. After graduating from college, Kioke moved to Lafayette, Louisiana to work for the Boy Scouts. After multiple job changes, he went to work for Quail Tools in 1985, where he was the Sales Manager until he retired in 2015. Kioke was an active member of First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, including several terms as deacon president. He taught Sunday School for many years, and he taught many age groups including high school, college, and in his later life, what he called the “old man class,” in which he had to facilitate the many varied and often passionate opinions of the men in his class. He served on numerous church committees throughout his life, and he sang in the church choir, serving as president. He had many great memories traveling the world with Luther Burney and the youth choir to places like Nova Scotia, Hawaii, Europe, and Puerto Rico. Kioke is survived by his wife, Sharon, of 51 years; his sons David of Lafayette and Jonathan and his wife Blair of Lake Charles; and his grandchildren, Eli, Evie, and Eloise Ringo of Lake Charles. Kioke loved to spend time with his family, and he absolutely spoiled his grandchildren despite the many pleas of their parents. He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Kioke was preceded in death by his parents George and Adelaide Ringo. The family would like to thank the doctors of the Ochsner ALS Clinic in New Orleans, Hospice of Acadiana, the ALS Association, the Gleason Foundation, and the many friends and neighbors who cared for Kioke in the final months of his life. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Lafayette, with Dr. James Pritchard officiating the service. A reception will follow in Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in his name to the First Baptist Church Music Ministry, First Baptist Christian School, the ALS Association, or the Gleason Foundation.