Ronald Eugene 'Ron' Henegar

Ronald Eugene Hengar was born in Long Beach, California, on August 11, 1947, to Ruth and Gene Henegar. He was the fourth of the Henegar children, preceded by Bill, Richard and Carleen. One other sibling, Brad, followed him by ten years. Ron was a vivacious child, adventuresome, fun-loving -- and daring -- which sometimes got him into trouble. But it mostly made him all the more lovable. He and the family moved to Downey, California, when Ron was about three, so Downey became the home he most remembered as he grew up. He attended Downey's Warren High School and there he met a beautiful young woman, the love of his life, Laureen Bridgewaters. After she graduated, they were wed on December 23, 1967, at the Imperial Highway Church of Christ in Downey, where they attended church. Ron served in the U.S. Army in Germany at a Nike missile site during the Viet Nam conflict. And Laureen served as well, moving their home to Germany. In fact, she gave birth to their first child there in Germany in a military hospital. After their return to the U.S. and his discharge, Ron worked at various jobs while attending California State University, Fullerton, where he earned his B.S. in Business Administration in 1976. Their first child, Jeanette, was born in 1969, followed by Matthew in 1970, about 15 months later. Their third child, Tara, was born about three years later in 19783. Much of this time, the family lived in Cerritos, California, near Downey and the Long Beach area. Ron advanced in the field of marketing and sales, and he excelled at his chosen career. Much of his experience was in the trucking and heavy equipment area. He and Laureen always were integrally involved in churches near them, wherever they moved -- from Cerritos to Chino to Running Springs in the San Bernardino mountains. They lived in Redlands for many years, finally selling in Temecula, California, an area they grew to love, where they were active in the nearby Murrieta Church of Christ. Ron was blessed with nine grandchildren, the youngest of which was born just three months prior to his passing. Daughter Jeanette has two daughters, Lauryn and Megan, and Jeanette's husband, Dale, has two sons, Gaby and Ale. Son Matt and his wife, Amy, have three sons and two daughters, Aidan, Owen, Della, Isaac and Marjorie Ruth. Daughter Tara and her husband, Art, have two sons, Nathan and Nicholas. Ron took special delight in his grandchildren. They were the joy of his life and source of great pride -- being, in his eyes, the smartest, most talented, most athletic, and best-looking children in the world. One of Ron's most treasured professional experiences involved volunteering for many years as the chief organizer of 'The World's Greatest Working Truck Show,' a yearly charity event to benefit children with various disabilities. He and Laureen volunteered in a variety of church ministries, especially in children's ministries. And Ron also volunteered in fund-raising for Sunset Haven senior saints home and ministries. When their children were in junior and senior high, they hosted several exchange students from Japan, some of whom continue to communicate with them to this day. Ron's life was cut short tragically after his extended and heroic battle with Lewy Body degenerative brain disease, having been diagnosed in 2012. But giving and outreach and love for other people and service to God have marked his life, and that of Laureen's, his lifelong partner. Ron will always be remembered as one of the most generous and welcoming people that many of us have known. He was a friend to all, a loyal brother, loving father, doting grandfather and, most of all, a beloved husband. Ron Hegegar made the world a better place, and we will miss him greatly.