Ronald Edwin Dana

Capt. Ronald Edwin Dana, Ret.
March 24, 1934 – May 29, 2015

Ron was the only child of Hamilton and Gladys (Adams) Dana. He was born on the Adams farm in Hastings, Michigan, but Detroit was his first home. After his parents' divorce, Gladys and Ron moved to Hastings. The time he spent with his grandparents Clay and Minnie Adams provided him with a firm foundation of faith in Jesus.
Gladys married Leon Willsey in 1947. The family moved to California in 1948, and built a home in Crestmore Village of Bloomington. Ron was a 1952 graduate of Colton HS.
In 1953, Ron enlisted in the US Air Force. He was a navigator and radar navigator on B-52s, and veteran of the Korean, Vietnam, and Cold Wars. Station assignments were in California, Texas, Alabama, and Washington, and deployments took him to Guam, Okinawa, and Bangkok. He was a captain at retirement in 1973.
On July 31, 1954, Ron married Ethel Louise Good, at Covenant EUB Church, in Pomona. They were the parents of five children, one of them passing at one day old.
Ron lived out his faith in service at the churches he attended, serving in choir, teaching Sunday School, as treasurer, and a deacon. He and Louise modeled commitment and faithfulness in their undertakings and raised their family in the truth of Scripture and the need to accept Jesus as their Savior and Sovereign.
After retirement from the USAF, Ron was employed at the San Bernardino County Jail while he earned an AA in accounting at Skadron College of Business and a bachelor degree at California Baptist College. A ten-year retirement was earned from management in San Bernardino County School Claims, followed by teaching in the county's special education and becoming a pastor at Grace Bible Church of Rialto.
He and Louise were generous in spending time with and investing in their children and nine grandchildren. Ron cared for Louise while she had ALS and passed away at home on December 15, 2000. The following years were filled with his children and their families, serving his church family, and connecting with his kin.
On September 8, 2012, Ron gained a companion when he married Deanna Smith, whom he had been friends with for over 30 years while attending Grace Bible Church. Together they had some good times and faced challenges with courage.
At Loma Linda University Hospital on May 29, Ron went into an aortic aneurism repair surgery with peace because of abiding hope in his Savior and his eternal destiny. He was ushered into his eternal health, rest and reunion.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, wife Louise, son Andrew, and son-in-law David Harrison.
He is survived by his wife Deanna;
children: Patricia Harrison of Spokane, WA; Timothy (Mary Jane) Dana of Crystal Beach, FL; Jacqueline (Richard) Moran of Fresno, CA; Matthew (Natasha) of Valley Village, CA;
grandchildren: Rachel (David) Dunn, Jonathan (Nancy) Dana, Aaron (Cassandra) Harrison, Cameron Dana, Jordan (Sarah) Harrison, Clayton Dana, Ethan Harrison, Natalie (Jeremiah) McWherter, Hannah (Andrew) Evans;
and 9 great grandchildren: Brayden, Abigail, and Savannah Dunn; Kaitlyn, Austin, and Landon Harrison; Maya and Nolan Harrison; and Maison Dana
In lieu of flowers: memorial gifts can be given to Greater Faith Grace Bible Church, with "In Memory of Ron Dana" in the memo section, at PO Box 1149, Rialto, CA 92377.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, June 8, 2015, at 10 am at Green Acres Memorial Park, followed by a memorial celebration at 12 pm at Greater Faith Grace Bible Church, 249 E. Randall Ave., Rialto, CA.


in lieu of flowers you can also send donations to

"In memory of Ron Dana"

Greater Faith Grace Bible Church
PO Box 1149
Rialto, CA 92377