Ronald Harold Bearden, age 67, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, November 29, 2012. Ron was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, on December 17, 1944, to Will Orr and Lorena Bearden. After an idyllic childhood in Dallas, Ron graduated from South Oak Cliff High School and went on to attain a B.S. degree in biology from Southwestern University in Georgetown in 1967. Then in 1969 he earned a M.S. degree in entomology from Louisiana State University. After his discharge from the U.S. Army in 1972, Ron began his professional career with the Texas Department of Health in the vector control division. Changing his focus to water, Ron held many positions within the Health Department before becoming the executive director of Texas Water Utilities Association in 1982. Ron retired from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission in 2001 but remained active within the drinking water regulation community.
Ron was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and a role model for all those around him. He was an unassuming man of many interests and talents, of which he gave generously. A modern Renaissance Man, Ron enjoyed tinkering, traveling, and many hobbies including stained glass, beer brewing, flying his ultralight, and philosophizing about life and its many wonderful gifts. His gentle soul, evident to all who knew him, will be greatly missed.
Ron is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Mary; daughters, Jane and her husband Kevin Schiffer and Helen and her husband Gabriel Shahwan; and grandchildren, Zoe and Dashiel Schiffer, and Nathan and Annalee Shahwan.
Funeral services will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Georgetown, Texas at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Grace Episcopal Church Columbarium Fund, 1314 East University Avenue, Georgetown, Texas 78626.
Arrangements by Cook-Walden/Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564.