Ronald Lee Dieterich

RONALD LEE DIETERICH, 62, of The Woodlands, TX, died on October 25, 2008 at home after battling colon cancer since 2002. He is now living in peace and without pain with his Lord. Ron was born on January 23, 1946 in Hagerstown, MD to Fred and Mildred Dieterich. After graduating from South Hagerstown High School in 1964 and the University of Maryland in 1968, he was drafted into the Army. He completed Officer Candidate School and was sent to South Korea, where he met Nancy Kelly, a Red Cross Donut Dolly from Hapeville, GA. Ten months later, on June 5, 1971, they were married in Hapeville. They lived in Laurel, MD near Fort Meade, where Ron attained the rank of captain and completed his military service. Ron then went back to the University of Maryland for his MBA. After his graduation, he and Nancy moved to Greensboro, NC, where Ron earned his certification as a CPA and worked for the public accounting firm Peat Marwick Mitchell (now KPMG). In January 1977 their daughter Laurie was born, and son Paul was born in April 1980. The family moved in 1986 to Macon, GA where Ron was the Executive Director of Internal Audit for the Charter Medical Corporation. Four years later, Ron joined St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston, TX as the Senior Vice President, Management Services and Internal Audit in a newly-created financial oversight position for St. Luke's and Texas Children's Hospital. In 1991 he added Chief Quality Officer to his responsibilities and in 1995 was named Senior Vice President, Management Services and Controller. During Ron's 16 years at St. Luke's the organization grew and was renamed St. Luke's Episcopal Health System. He retired in 2006 as the Senior Vice President, Controller and Compliance Officer at St. Luke's Episcopal Health System. Ron was a member of the of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. During his time at St. Luke's Ron was active in his and Nancy's church, The Woodlands Community Presbyterian (WCPC). After his retirement he was able to do much more; he served on a number of different committees, completed the 50-hour Stephen Ministry training, and was commissioned as a Stephen Minister in 2008. He particularly enjoyed his WCPC Wednesday morning book study group meetings. For a number of years he and Nancy participated in the American Cancer Society's fundraiser Relay For Life, and in 2008 Ron was the top fundraiser for Montgomery County. Ron played some golf in college, and in Greensboro he had the opportunity to play frequently. While working at Charter and St. Luke's he had little time for golf, but once he retired he joined a group of friends who played every Friday. Ron also enjoyed going to Astros and Rockets games with Paul. Last fall Ron, an avid Green Bay Packers fan, flew with Paul to Green Bay to attend a Packers game at Lambeau Field. Ron was preceded in death by his father, Fred, and is survived by his mother Mildred, wife Nancy, children Laurie and Paul, and sister Lois Herchenrother. A memorial service will be held at The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church on Sunday, November 2 at 2 pm. The church is located at 4881 W. Panther Creek Drive, The Woodlands, TX, 77381. A reception will follow.