Ronald Robertson
February 15, 1936 – March 7, 2024
Ronald Turner Robertson was welcomed home to His Lord’s presence on March 7, 2024, after a courageous fight against cancer. During his illness and final moments, Ron showed steadfast faith and commitment to the Lord and a love for those around him.
Ron was born in the early part of 1936 in Waelder, Texas. He was the firstborn son of Knox Houston Robertson and Myra Madelyn Robinson Robertson. His family moved soon after Ron’s 10th birthday to Sierra Blanca in the beautiful mountains of West Texas.
When Ron was 12 years old, two life-changing events set the trajectory of his life. First, he gave his life to Jesus Christ in childlike faith. Second, he went to live with the Wrights, a godly family who gave him a vision for godly manhood. The time he spent working on the Wrights’ sheep ranch helped to mold him into the person God planned for him to be.
His beloved aunt and uncle, Bryan and Martha Anderson, welcomed him into their home in Donna, Texas to complete his high school education. It was there that he met and fell in love with his wife-to-be, Marlene. They spent their high school years as sweethearts and decided they couldn’t live without each other. Ron and Marlene married soon after she graduated (which she did in just 3 years so she could marry the love of her life). They proved their love and devotion to each other throughout their 69 years of marriage.
The Robertsons determined from the first to raise a family devoted to God. They began a legacy of faithfulness that at the time of Ron’s passing has extended to four generations. Following his high school graduation, Ron enlisted in the United States Air Force. He started his career at Lackland Air Force in San Antonio where he was quickly recognized for his intelligence, mechanical abilities, leadership skills and work ethic. He was at the top of his class in every training, His superiors expected and encouraged him to excel and to lead others.
During more than two decades in the Air Force, Ron continued his faithfulness to God and his family during moves to Delaware, Hawaii, and Maryland. He retired with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant from Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, after 22 years in the Air Force. During his career, as the crew chief on Air Force One, he served under Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford.
Wherever God led the Robertsons, Ron’s first task was to find a Bible-believing church where he and his family could learn from God’s Word and serve others. In every church they attended, Ron became a leader, trustee, Sunday School Superintendent, or deacon. His wife and children were blessed to know that the man everyone knew publicly was the same man they knew at home. Ron’s greatest blessing always was to share the love of Christ in any way he could.
In 1976, Ron and Marlene and their three children moved back to where they began: the Rio Grande Valley. They settled in Weslaco and Ron began his second career as the production manager of Texsun Corporation and finished his tenure there as general manager. First Baptist Church of Weslaco was their church home, where God blessed Ron and Marlene with lasting Christ-centered friendships.
When Ron retired from Texsun, he began his third career as an independent home remodeler and general contractor. He blessed many families through his conscientious remodeling work. His most loving project, though, was to build an apartment attached to his own home so that he and Marlene could move her mother there and care for her until Jesus took her home to heaven.
Soon after this, the Robertsons made their final move–to Belton, Texas. First Baptist Church Belton quickly became home for them. Their connections and friendships through choir, Sunday school, ISI (Iron Sharpens Iron, a large, tightly knit men’s Bible study group), and military fellowship have forged eternal friendships.
Ron was always a man of prayer and a lifelong seeker after God. His goal was to understand God’s Word more deeply so that he could be a witness to everyone he encountered. Even during his hospital stays and cancer treatments, he found a way to emphasize the good in his difficulties and allow God’s love to shine through.
If there is one verse in God’s word that exemplifies Ron’s faithfulness, it is Corinthians 16:13-14. “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”
Ron and Marlene (who each called the other “the love of my life”) created a great legacy for the children they faithfully raised. Rhonda, Ron Jr and Robin experienced the love of God the Father through the example of their own faithfulness. To their delight, all of their families presently reside in Texas.
Daughter, Rhonda Van Sickle and her husband Michael of Dallas, married 45 years, have four children: Joel (wife Denise) of Dallas, Melissa Bernard (husband Andrew) of Forney and their children Thaddeus, Silas, and Matthias; Anjulie Kenwood (husband Chris) of Fort Worth, and Kalani McLeod (husband Benjamin) of Greenville.
Ron Robertson Jr. and his wife Babs of Houston, married 44 years, have two daughters, Heather Williams (husband Cy) of Glen Rose and their children Emma and Dean; Gayle Clowes (husband Dane) and their children Sutton and Sawyer of Needville.
Daughter, Robin Williamson and her husband Steve of Belton, married 30 years, have two children, Christopher of Belton and Kaylah of Harlingen. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, his step-father, Ben Parker, and his aunt and uncle, Bryan and Martha Anderson.
Ron is survived by his devoted wife Marlene, their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Also his sister Paula Parker Lutich of Fabens, his niece Kinsey Awalt (husband Gerald) of College Station and their children Cannon and Sierra.
Ron will be missed by many other dear family members as well as countless friends that meant the world to him and to his family.
In lieu of flowers donation may be made to: the Lung Cancer Foundation, https://lcfamerica.org/donate/ or First Baptist “Hilltop” Building Fund.
A memorial service was held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 at the First Baptist Church of Belton, family visitation followed the service.
Burial was at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery with full military honors.
