Ronald Shumate

Ronald Dean Shumate went to be with the Lord at 9:09 a.m., Saturday, July 20, 2013, from his earthly home in Austin, TX, after succumbing to the medical issues in recent months.

Ron was born April 23, 1951, in Beckley, West Virginia, to Vince and Imogene Acord Shumate, the youngest of three boys. He attended Beckley schools and, after graduation, joined the Air Force in the summer of 1969. Upon completion of basic training and tech school in Biloxi, Mississippi, Ron was stationed at Clark AFB, The Philippines, until 1972, when he was sent to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

In 1972, while at Tinker AFB, Ron met and eventually married Sharon Joyce Rock on September 30, 1972, at Knob Hill Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. The Air Force sent Ron and Sharon to the Philippines for their 'honeymoon,' and then 19 months later, continued their honeymoon back in Oklahoma. Over the next 20 years, the Air Force continued to send Ron and Sharon around the world, to Italy, Georgia, England, New Mexico, and finally to Austin, Texas, where they spent the rest of their lives together.

Along the way, Ron and Sharon were blessed with two sons, William Scott, born in Oklahoma City in 1975, and Ronald Dean, Jr., born in Italy in 1978, who have grown into strong, mature men with families of their own.

Ron was a man of many talents. The Air Force introduced Ron to the world of electronics, and that stayed with him the rest of his life. Being skilled in electronics, Ron, in his long working career, spent time in electronics and cellphone sales and in the repair of all types of small electronic audio and visual items. His experience in electronics helped him as he worked in the area of sound.

Ron worked as a sound technician for many years, all over the world. He ran sound and lights in the mid-1980's for the Air Force's All England Talent Show for talent from American air forces bases all over England.

In the 1990's Ron was the sound man for the Austin-based southern gospel singing group, The Spokesman. He was the go-to sound expert for many churches all over the world. Ron's interests also extended to square dancing, starting in the mid-1980's and continuing to recent years in Austin. In between, he square danced all over the world.

Ron was also interested in photography. He was the photographer for many weddings. From the Philippines to Austin, he plied his skill to create memorable weddings for numerous couples. Ron was photographer for the Waterloo Square Dance Club and the Austin Square and Round Dance Association for a time.

In recent years, Ron used his photographic skills to record events in several churches in and around Austin.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and many other West Virginia family.

He is survived by his brother James and wife Barbara from Surprise, Arizona; his wife Sharon; his sons Scott and wife Kathryn from Georgetown, Texas, and Dean and wife Rita from Chicago, Illinois; and by the joys of his life, his three grandchildren Ethan, Elizabeth, and Victoria Shumate, all from Georgetown.

A memorial service honoring Ron's life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 27, 2013, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 6709 Circle S Road, Austin, Texas. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

Please consider military-related charities such as the Wounded Warrior Project, USO, the Fisher House Foundation, or your local military-related group.