Ronald F. Loewen

Loewen, Ronald F A memorial service for Ronald F. "Ron" Loewen, 70, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, with a reception following the service in the Adult Reception Hall. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Mr. Loewen died Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Born in Wichita, Kansas on December 27, 1947, he was a son of the late Wesley Loewen and Louise Friesen Loewen. Ron graduated from Emporia State University with a B.S. in Political Science and an M.S. in Education, and received his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law. His career began at KAKE-TV, where he served as in-house legal council, News Director, Programming and Operations Director, Station Manager, and Vice President. He was recruited by Liberty Corporations Media Company and served as general manager and Vice President of WIS-TV for seven years. Ron went to work for Liberty Life Insurance for a time, serving as President, before returning to Liberty Corporation as Vice President of Strategic Development, where he managed key business units and developed Liberty Digital. In 2006 Ron founded his national consulting firm, Loewen Consulting, in Columbia. During this time, he served as the executive director of the USC Technology Incubator for several years. As President of the firm, he served on the board of an international, industry-leading high-tech data company, Weather Central. He was also on the board of the highly successful media tech company, Digitalsmiths. In 1997 Governor David Beasley presented Ron with the state's highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto, recognizing a lifetime of achievement and service. He provided service as a board member for the Associated Press Broadcast Board; chairman of the University of South Carolina College of Journalism and Mass Communications Partnership Board; a member of Board of Visitors at USC; a member of Columbia Urban League; and was President of the South Carolina Broadcaster Association. He received the Honorary Life Membership Award from the South Carolina Broadcaster Association, an award that honors those who have served broadcasting by making significant contributors to the industry. He also served in the Kansas Air National Guard. Surviving are his wife, Lisa S. Hutto; step-daughters, Frances Hayden Hutto, Anne Hollins Hutto and Mary Hayes Hutto; sisters, Tamara Loewen and Cynthia "Cindy" Loewen. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Souper Bowl of Caring, c/o Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3200 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29204; or the University of Kansas Law School, 1535 W 15th St, Lawrence, KS 66045. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.