Charles Crowe
Ron Warren - One in a Million Spirit
Ron was a big man, a big person - in stature, for sure, but far more powerfully in spirit and his unselfishness and love of God, family and friends. So smart, funny, hard working, loving heart so big, and as calm, steady and comforting…as they come.
It was never about him, no matter how great his challenges and reasons to talk about them for attention, sympathy or even status of interest to friends. No matter whatever unusually great challenges he faced and pain he experienced, he was always asking how YOU were doing. But, in the way God works, his love and concern for others above self inspired those who knew him to try to be like him.
His spouse and soulmate, Carol, was the perfect teammate for the joys and challenges of their lives. His fun-loving spirit and unbreakable optimism attracted all who knew him to want to be with him, be like him, hear his hilarious stories, and be comforted by his powerful empathy and spirit. He was one of the few people I ever knew who anyone would describe as unusually courageous, an example of how to live, how to handle the ups and downs of life with grace and equanimity, truly a great spirit.
Family came first, followed by his deep friendships, many going back to elementary or high school. His loving spirit so strongly influenced his wonderful grandchildren, who adored him. Same for his and their beloved dog, Hannah.
He was an unusually gifted story teller whose low key style made the punch lines that much more hilarious or moving. He suffered more deep tragedies than most, like the brutal, senseless death of his mother in an armed robbery and the very difficult medical challenges he faced with supreme courage late in life. But you would never know how deeply he was challenged when he was just hanging around with friends — it was his nature to regale friends with some of the most interesting and hilarious stories, many of them true adventures in his life that were among the most amazing you’d ever hear, like when he was wounded accidentally — not seriously, thank goodness — by a supposedly harmless blank bullet in his job as a train robbery actor at the old Lakeland Amusement Park.
His hearty laugh was so distinctive, so spontaneous, that it made all who heard it feel happier instantly. Ron was a joy bringer and spirit healer to some of his old friends from elementary, junior high and high school as we neared and reached retirement age, especially as some developed health problems. As great a story teller as he was, he was equally gifted as a thoughtful listener and comforter.
What a special person, family man and friend for life! He will live in the hearts of all who really knew him as long as we live.
Love, Charlie Crowe, fellow graduate of the Overton High School Class of 1970