RONALD LeRoy DESPAIN

Ronald LeRoy DeSpain

As the gates of heaven opened on January 27, 2010, Ronald LeRoy DeSpain found his beloved parents, four brothers, and many friends waiting for him with open arms.

Ronald was born on January 9, 1940, to Ora and Opal Adams Beene DeSpain near Gate, Oklahoma. His heavenly Father took him home at Silverado Memory Living Center at Cypresswood in Houston, Texas.

Ron grew up and attended grade school at Gate, and Straight, Oklahoma. As a young man, Ron was very active in Boy Scouts where he received many honors which included the Order of the Arrow, God and Country and Eagle Scout Award. He graduated from Hooker High School where he was an honor student, president to the senior class, and an outstanding athlete. He attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University then graduated from Panhandle A&M College in Goodwell, Oklahoma with a teaching degree. While teaching school, he completed the Masters program in counseling at Emporia State University; later, he received his Doctorate degree of higher education from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. His teaching career took him from Liberal, Kansas, to Monte Vista, Colorado, then to Amarillo, Texas. In his later years, he served as President of Texas State Technical College in Amarillo, Texas. One of Ron's greatest assets was he loved each student he came in contact with and inspired many to continue their education.

Ron was a member of the St. Stephens United Methodist Church in Amarillo. He also was a deacon, elder, and treasurer for many years at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Amarillo prior to joining St. Stephens. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Rotary Club, Kiwanis International, and served on many state education boards and committees.

On August 25, 1961, he married Arvia Smith in Guymon, Oklahoma. To this union, four children were born. Teri, Tim, Todd and Tricia were the "apples of his eye".

Ron is survived by his beloved wife, Arvia DeSpain of Houston, Texas; two sons, Tim and Christi DeSpain of Houston, Texas; Todd and Michelle DeSpain of Katy, Texas; two daughters, Teri Meil of Amarillo, Texas; Tricia and James Mize of Humble, Texas; a foreign exchange daughter, Noor Asni Fattah of Jakarta, Indonesia; grandchildren, Beck and Madison Claer DeSpain, Tyler and Taylor DeSpain, Brett Meil, Micha and Mason Mize, Justin Williams, Michael and Mark Meil, and Lauren DeSpain. Other survivors include three brothers, Tracy and Geneva Beene of Lee Summitt, Missouri; John and ReJeanna DeSpain of Goodwell, Oklahoma; Donald DeSpain of Guymon, Oklahoma; two sisters, Louise Armstrong of Cunningham, Kansas; Laura and Jerry Hill of Guymon, Oklahoma; mother-in-law Etta Smith of Council Bluffs, Iowa; two sisters-in-law, Ann and Edward LaBreck of Omaha, Nebraska; Nancy and Michael Hale of Council Bluffs, Iowa; a special niece Diane and Neil Strong of Houston, Texas; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ora and Opal DeSpain and four brothers, C.E. Beene, O.J, Charles, and Gary DeSpain; father-in-law The Reverend Clarence Smith; and sister-in-law Mary DeSpain.

Funeral and burial services will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home in Amarillo, Texas on Monday, February 1, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Family visitation will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, January 31, 2010. Memorials will be to Alzheimer's Association and Silverado Memory Living Center at Cypresswood in Houston, Texas in care of the mortuary.

The family deeply appreciates all the love and support given to Ron by Silverado Hospice and Silverado Memory Living Center at Cypresswood.