Ronnie Upton

Floydada - Ronnie Dale Upton, age 89, of Canyon, passed away on December 8, 2025 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at Floyd County Memorial Park. Services under the care of the Moore-Rose Funeral Home in Floydada.

He was born to Nina and Raymond Upton on Mother's Day, May 10, 1936 in Floyd County, Texas. Ronnie grew up in South Plains, Texas where his family farmed and ran the grocery store and his mother served as the Postmistress. Ronnie began working at age 11 driving a tractor for $5 a day. During these years, his younger sister Bonnie and much younger brother Jimmy formed a strong lifelong bond.

After graduating from Floydada High School in 1954, Ronnie farmed and helped the family plant and harvest the annual crop. Ronnie then enlisted in the US Army in January 1955 where he served in the infantry. Ronnie married Betty Blum, his high school sweetheart and the Love of his Life, on January 8, 1956 and they began their married life stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington.

In 1957, Ronnie, Betty and their daughter Christy moved to Canyon, Texas where Ronnie attended West Texas State College on the GI Bill and graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree and Teaching Certificate. Their oldest son, Rick was born during Ronnie's last year of college.

Ronnie loved teaching and taught Math and Algebra at Fannin Junior High in Amarillo, Texas for 7-1/2 years. He was recognized as Teacher of the Year and was head of the Math Department. He made many lifelong friends with both faculty members and students during his short teaching tenure. Their family grew once again with the addition of another son, Rocky.

During the summer months, Ronnie worked various jobs to supplement his teaching salary. It was during this time in the summer of 1963, as a Nabisco substitute relief diver, that the Lord put Ronnie at the right place at just the right time. Ronnie saved two young boys from drowning in Olton, Texas and was presented the Carnegie Hero Award.

To better provide for his family of five, Ronnie began to study computer programming and started working at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo. In 1968 he went to work for IBM which took he and the family to New York State where they lived and he commuted into New York City to work. After about 16 months Ronnie decided he needed to get back to Texas and began work at Western Data in Amarillo. In 1975, Ronnie accepted a position at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico where he would spend the next 18 years before Texas drew him home again.

Ronnie, Betty and Nicolas moved back to Canyon in 1993. Ronnie and Betty invested in property and spent their time raising Nicolas and managing their rental properties.

Ronnie enjoyed playing games and was always an encourager whether he was playing for fun with young people at family gatherings or playing duplicate bridge with highly skilled card players. He was a master point holder and enjoyed winning with good results.

Ronnie loved his family and exemplified the heart of a servant always thinking of the needs of others before his own. He served as a deacon at Southlawn Church of Christ where he was involved in the initial opening of the High Plains Children's Home in 1967, and served as liaison between the Los Alamos Church of Christ and small sister Church of Christ in Penasco, New Mexico. He served the senior community and shut in church members taking communion to them and making them feel special.

Ronnie is survived by his wife Betty, daughter Christy Collier and husband, Ed, sons Rick Upton and wife Lynn, Rocky Upton; five grandchildren Nicolas Upton, Alison and husband Chris Dane, and Kendra and husband Chris Braughton, Eddie Collier and wife Rita and Michael Collier and wife Kimber; nine great grandchildren Harper, Brycen, Ethan, Oliver, Harlee, Michaya, Stone, Ryan and Bailey; sister Bonnie Craig, sister-in-law Vickie Upton; and his nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Nina Upton, his brother Jimmy Upton and brother-in-law Karl Craig.

The family would like to thank the Amarillo Veteran's Adminstration home health care team along with the many home caregivers that provided compassionate care for Ronnie during the past year.

The family suggests memorial gifts to the High Plains Children's Home hpch.org or Christian Relief Fund crf.com in lieu of flowers.