Donal "Ron" Vernon Sr

Donal “Ron” Vernon Sr. of Conroe, Texas, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by his family on July 11, 2024 at the age of 76. Ron had bravely battled cancer since 2015, meeting its challenges with strength, fortitude, and unwavering determination until his final moments. He will be dearly missed. Ron was born on July 23, 1947 in Bryan, Texas. He attended Stephen F. Austin High School where, at age 15, he met and began dating the love of his life, Jennifer Sosolik. In April 1966—just a few years later—he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, marking the beginning of a dedicated service to our country. After Boot Camp, Ron was assigned to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. While he and Jennifer were engaged at the time, they had yet to set a wedding date. Recognizing his desire to have his soulmate by his side for the journey ahead, Ron promptly called Jennifer, and just two weeks later on May 6, 1966, they married. They embarked on their new adventure as husband and wife by loading up Jennifer’s 1964 Fairlane, bidding farewell to family and friends, and setting off down Route 66 to California with a bucket of chicken Jennifer’s mother kindly made for the journey. In 1969, Ron was deployed to Vietnam where he served in the 555th Civil Engineering Squadron—known as “Red Horse”—in Cam Ranh Bay. Ron excelled in his service, rising to the rank of Sergeant and earning many accolades in the process, including the Good Conduct Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. Ron returned home to his family in 1970 and leveraged the leadership skills honed throughout his military service to excel in the construction industry. Starting as a carpenter, he steadfastly climbed the ranks to become Vice President of Operations. He persistently remained dedicated to excellence, always holding himself to the highest standard and inspiring those around him to give their best. Ron was an avid outdoorsman. Throughout his life, he enjoyed a range of hobbies including deer hunting, fishing in lakes and rivers, camping, and gardening. He delighted in sharing fresh vegetables harvested from his garden with friends and family, and he mastered the art of smoking both brisket and ribs. Ron held a deep passion for classic cars—especially his 1965 Mustang—and was known for his vivid stories about them. Whether recounting a trip down California’s quarter-mile strip in his 1969 Super Bee or racing cars on the streets in his youth, Ron was always ready to share an account of his admiration for and adventures with classic cars. Ron was a true patriot with an immense love for his country. He took great pride in his military service, and he was adamant that the flag be respected, veterans honored, and the values he fought for upheld. Ron was preceded in death by his parents Donal and Bessie (Mauldin); his sister Dianna Vernon Peacock (Howard) and his brother Rickey Vernon. Ron is survived by his loving, devoted wife of 58 years, Jennifer Sosolik Vernon; children Ron Vernon Jr. and Trisha Vernon Brown; daughter-in-law Darla Vernon; grandchildren Emily Vernon, Cameron Vernon, Haley Brown, and Madeline Brown; brother Charles Vernon (Jo Lynn); sister Linda Strickland (Joel), sister-in-law Rita Kitchens Vernon, and many nieces and nephews. A visitation for Ron will be held on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, from 2:00-3:00 pm at Addison Funeral Home, 18630 Kuykendahl, Spring, Texas 77379. This will be immediately followed by a Celebration of Life at 3:00 pm. To honor and celebrate Ron’s devotion and love for the country, attendees are encouraged to wear patriotic colors. Ron will later be interred at a private family ceremony at the Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Ron can be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America at https://vva.org/donate/

Donal "Ron" Vernon Sr

July 23, 1947 - July 11, 2024