Ronald Ray Dickerson of Moab passed away on October 4, 2018, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer.
Ron was born on July 29, 1939, in Palo Alto, California, to Arva Lavon Grapp and Sherwood Dickerson. He lived with his mother in Des Moines, Iowa, after his parents divorced, and his father later married Ruth James. Ron then came to live with them in Grand Junction, Colorado, for several years; then, in 1953, the family relocated to Moab.
He attended high school in Moab, where he met and married Diane Rynio. Ron and Diane had two children and shortly after his son was born, Ron was deployed to Japan to work in communications as part of his stint with the Air Force. After receiving his discharge and returning from Japan, he went to work at Midland Telephone Company (now Frontier) for a time, then worked at the Pershing missile base in Green River. After the missile base closed, he returned to work at the telephone company and was also a disc jockey at a couple of Moab’s local radio stations. Ron retired from the phone company in 2004.
He and Diane were later divorced, and Ron met Natalie Huelsman through his job at the telephone company. He and Natalie were married in 1976 and remained so for the 42 years until his death.
He was a ham radio enthusiast for most of his life. You could always recognize the homes he lived in from the antenna mounted on them for the operation of his radios. He also took care of the communications during the Friendship Cruise on the Colorado River. He was very interested in computers and other technology. Ron owned and rode several motorcycles during his earlier years, and he and Natalie would often take multi-day trips on them. He was also active in the Moab Community Theater for several years and was a big dog lover.
His biggest passion, though, was his horses and horseback riding. He enjoyed entering his animals in shows and won many awards. He and Natalie also loved to go trail riding in the local canyons. He was a member of several organizations, including the Rodeo Club Committee, Trail Mix and the Back Country Horsemen, and was the announcer for the Quarter Horse shows for several years.
He is survived by his wife, Natalie J. Dickerson; half sister JulieAnn Thurston; half brothers Jim Dickerson and Bill Dickerson; and his children, Ronald K. Dickerson and Lisa Karen Dickerson Beeman. He had five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arva Buechler and Sherwood Dickerson; stepmother Ruth Dickerson; and sisters Carol Zabloudil and Diane Crim.
Ron had a great sense of humor, was admired by his friends, and was deeply loved by his family. He will be greatly missed by all.
Condolences may be sent to Spanish Valley Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Moab Food Bank.
Ron was cremated shortly after his death. There will be a celebration of life at the MARC on November 17, 2018, from 1 to 4 p.m. All friends and family are invited to attend and share stories about Ron at this informal gathering.
