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Ronald Lee Chavez
December 8, 1964 ~ August 29, 2024
Ron passed away on August 29, 2024 surrounded by his loving wife and daughters at their family’s ranch near Temecula California at the age of 59. He was born on December 8, 1964 in Albuquerque New Mexico to parents Elias and Arlene Chavez. As a child Ron and his family lived and traveled extensively throughout Asia and Europe accompanying his father who was working there. Upon return to the US, they lived in Northern California, Virginia and New Mexico. Ron attended El Dorado High School in Albuquerque New Mexico and The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Ron enjoyed athletics in High School and was a state champion wrestler.
Ron had a way of making anyone he met feel like a longtime friend. Nationality, age, race, and social status had no bearing as he was able to comfortably converse and find common ground with just about anyone. Ron’s long list of friends from around the globe is evident of this. Ron had a presence about him that was contagious. His big smile, eagerness to engage and overwhelming positivity lit up a room. When asked how his day was, his typical response was “Enjoying life” and that is exactly what he did whenever he had the opportunity. He was an avid outdoorsman and throughout his life had a fondness for scuba diving, caving, hiking, camping, climbing, skeet shooting and he enjoyed trying anything that allowed him to be close to nature.
Ron continued to be very well traveled for both business and pleasure. Until taking early retirement, Ron worked for Continental Airlines from 1986 to 2003 starting in Albuquerque New Mexico, then on to Houston Texas and Dallas Texas in various capacities. This helped to fulfill Ron’s love of everything aviation. In the next phase of his life, Ron also worked in Logistics and Security Management on several Government and Oil & Gas Contracts around the globe. At the time of his death Ron and his wife were small business owners serving the San Diego California area. Ron proudly served our country as an Officer with the Army and National Guard from 1989 to 2001. He was also employed as a private contractor for several years where he was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 1994 Ron met and fell in love with his wife and partner Patti (Pretopapa). They were married in 1997 in Saipan and put down roots in the Houston Texas area for many years. There they were blessed with their beloved twin daughters Samantha and Raquel. Ron loved to talk about, show pictures and praise his family to anyone willing to listen. He was proud that he was blessed and not afraid to let everyone around him know. In 2016 Ron and family moved to Southern California where he and Patti became business owners serving the San Diego area.
Ron was preceded in death by his mother Arlene and is survived by his father Elias, his wife Patti and daughters Samantha and Raquel, his sister Karen Chavez-Neill from Overland Park Kansas, and other siblings, nieces, nephew, aunts, uncles and cousins in New Mexico, Texas, Florida, Kansas, Connecticut, and California.
A celebration of Ron’s life will be forthcoming. We invite you to send, pictures, a note or a short video about your memory of Ron to be included in his celebration of life. Send to RonChavezMemorial@gmail.com
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to England Family Mortuary, Inc.
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Ron, you will be missed. RIP
Ronnie always brought a smile to anyone’s face he met, whether it was the 1st time or the hundredth. Your infectious smile and goofy laugh will be missed by everyone.
You were loved and you will be missed, the world is a little less bright now.
I love you Ronnie and hope you are at peace and pain free.
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. I worked with Ron Kandahar. He was always friendly and welcoming. He made us newbies feel at home. I enjoyed knowing him, as did many, many others. I’ve enjoyed following him on FB. I hope knowing that everyone who knew him really liked him can help to ease your pain in some small way. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Grateful to have known Ron, who never had a bad word, celebrated his love for his wife daily and approached life with a sense of humor and wonder. Wishing you all the best in this transition Patti. He’ll be missed by many. Keep Truckin’ and Fly like an Eagle, Ron. Former EHS classmate, Robin
Ron and Patti both were always smiling every time you would see them. Though we didn’t get to spend a lot of time together with everyone’s busy lives. We always thought of them as friends.
Ron always had a funny story to share.
The world was a brighter place with Rons smilng face. Though he has gone on I know he is shining down on Patti and the girls and will forever watch over them
Go with God Ron
The Gilberts
When I visited Ron and his beloved wife, Patti, in Temecula, I felt that we were all old friends. To quote another wise soul, Gandalf ” End? The journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we must all take .The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it. White shores, and beyond, a far Green Country under a swift sunrise.”
Ron, I wish you a great awakening. I am sure we will meet again.
With love for him and his family,
Rochelle
Celebrate vs Mourning. Yes, my heart breaks that Patti and the girls lost a good one, such a good man. When I think of Ron, I think of a curious and intelligent person who loved life deeply and lived fully. I will miss his humor and his ever present laugh. One of my funniest memories of him was in 10th grade. We went to Homecoming and my military father gave him a ‘friendly’ interview with some firm advice. He was a trooper with that. When we drove to the valley and had dinner at a fine territorial restaurant, which has since closed, I broke the ice attempting to squeeze a lemon in my iced tea. It flew across the room and landed near another table. We laughed and laughed and laughed about it 40 years later. Rest well my sweet friend. You are most loved and will be dearly missed.