Ronald R. Woods passed away April 17, 2015 in Lake Jackson, Texas. He was 79 years of age. Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Newell and Valliera Woods on August 30, 1935,his family moved back to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas when Ron was six months old. Although born in Oklahoma, Ron always considered himself a true Texan, since his ancestors settled in colonial Texas in 1824.
After graduation from San Benito High School in 1953, he attended Texas A&M University, and his heart has bled maroon forever after. For over thirty-five years, each autumn he could be found sitting in the stands at Kyle Field waiting to cheer his Ags on to victory.
Ron served his country in the United States Air Force during the Cold War, and was stationed for the most part at Castle AFB in California. Initially selected for pilot training, he spent most of his stint as a Combative Measures Instructor. Prior to the USAF he served four years in the 112th Armored Cavalry, a National Guard unit, attached to the 49th Armored Division.
Following his military service, Ron went to work for Southwestern Bell in 1957. His career led him from Harlingen, Texas, to Houston, and then he was appointed an Area Manager for Brazosport, where he served for five years. When the Bell System split up in 1983, he chose to go with AT&T, and served in the Computer Division in Houston for the western United States until his retirement in 1989.
He married the former Edith Jane Puckett of Brownsville in 1958, and they enjoyed almost forty years of marriage before her death in 1998. They produced one daughter, Tracie Ann Woods Turner, of The Woodlands, Texas. She was the "apple of his eye", and was the second generation of his family to attend Texas A&M University. She has given him two wonderful granddaughters, Kirsten and Tori, who have continued the family legacy of going to Aggieland.
Ron is presently married to the former Mary Jo Braswell Kleypas, and they have enjoyed traveling and taking many cruises in the past twelve years of their marriage. He enjoyed being a part of the large Kleypas family, and became the step-dad to Kay De Young, Mark Kleypas, Karen Reed, and Kathy Farris.
Surviving Ron is one brother, Bill "Buzz" Woods, his wife Sharon, and numerous members of the extended Woods, Puckett, and Kleypas families.
Ron had an unquenchable thirst for history and genealogy. He was a member of the Mayflower Descendants, the Bradford Society, Austin's Old 300, and Texas First Families. Over the years, he served as President of the Sons of the Texas Revolution, Woods Family Association, the Freeport Kiwanis Club, and the Experimental Aircraft Association.
Flying his own aircraft and wildlife photography were his lifelong hobbies. As a result, he published two photography books, and several of his photographs appeared in magazines.
The family will receive friends 3pm to 5pm Sunday at Lakewood Funeral Chapel.
Services are scheduled for 10am Monday, April 20, 2015 at Lakewood Funeral Chapel in Lake Jackson, Texas with Rev.David Bucklew officiating. Interment will follow at Restwood Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers are Gene Thacker, Dick Black, Dave Bleakney, Jerry Baker, Dan Woods, and Michael Puckett. Honorary pallbearers are Jim Murray, Bill "Buzz" Woods and Bob Dunbar.
Arrangements by the Turner family. On line condolences may be made to lakewoodfuneralchapel.com.
