Roy Van Rankin III

Roy Van Rankin III,58, known as “Poncho” was born in Evansville, IN on June 21, 1959 to the late Ernestine Rankin Howard and Roy Van Rankin, Jr. He was a graduate of Bosse High School and later joined the United States Army where he served for 3 years as a member of the 82nd Airborne.
He worked in building maintenance in Ft. Wayne, IN and later opened Essie & Roy’s Day Care with his wife of 22 years. They also had a lawn care business for many years. Roy attended several churches throughout his life including Cleaves Memorial C.M. E. Church as a child, Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall, Memorial Baptist Church, and Nazarene Baptist Church. He believed in God and Jesus Christ, his son.

Poncho loved music especially pop and he learned to love the Blues after a visit to Memphis. He enjoyed watching basketball and football on television. Most of all Poncho enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was a generous man who took care of his family.

On Friday March 23, 2018, Poncho passed from earth to eternity. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife: Tracey Johnson Rankin;siblings: twin brother, Rodney Rankin, Denise Rankin, Renea Rankin, Geno Rankin, Desi Rankin, and Regina Rankin; stepson: Thad Harvell, III.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his ex- wife, Essie; daughters: Mia Davis of New York City; Darlisha Jones of Atlanta; sons: Roy Van Rankin IV, Adrian Jones, George Jones, Avion Jones, all of Evansville; stepdaughters: Sylvia Binder of Texas, Darlene Wills of Evansville, Velma Holland of Terre Haute; stepsons: Tony L. Binder, Sr., Andre Lewis, Gabriell Harvell, all of Evansville; siblings: Natalie Parrish of Evansville, RaeLynn Rankin of Ft. Wayne, Bridgette Hooper who is overseas, Lanita Rankin, Tracena Rankin, Debra Roach-Rankin, Megan Rankin all of Evansville; brothers: Michale Rankin, Dwayne Rankin, Fletcher Byrd all of Evansville; aunts: Bertha Irvin, Shirley Rankin, Anna Belle Lawrence; uncles: James Johnson, Steven Rankin, Johnnie Rankin, Jeremiah Rankin; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Poncho will be greatly missed but we will always keep him in our hearts. As he would say, "Love one another. Right on!"