Ronald "Ron" Howard Cobb

Ronald “Ron” Howard Cobb, 81, of Austin, Texas, passed away on February 15, 2023, surrounded by his children and grandson Alex. Ron was born on September 22, 1941, to Virgil and Adrian Cobb in Houston, Texas just as a Category 3 hurricane blew through Houston. He had nothing but fond memories to share about his upbringing, including stories about his loving parents, and older brother Jerry Cobb, with whom he shared the same goofy sense of humor.

Ron graduated from Reagan High School in 1959, where he excelled in football, track, and as a member of a Do-Wop A cappella quartet “The Empires”. He married his Junior High School sweetheart, Lenora Jean Mitchell, and they had five beautiful children. Ron spent the next 11 years working during the day and attending night classes at the University of Houston and then South Texas School of Law, eventually successfully graduating – all while raising his growing family.

At age 20, while attending undergrad, Ron was hired by the American Insurance Company which would be the start of a highly successful 52-year career in the insurance industry.

At the young age of 26, Ron was elected President of the Houston Texas Jaycees, where in one year, he helped build that chapter into one of the nation’s largest. Upon taking office, he went to then Houston Mayor Louie Welch and asked what project he could take on that would make the biggest difference. Welch suggested the toughest project that he knew of, which was to somehow get fresh water to a small African-American community, Bordersville, that was located within one half mile of the Houston Intercontinental Airport. The residents paid city taxes but did not have basic city services. Ron helped rectify the situation by coordinating a water well drilling project that was recognized nationally as the best Jaycee project of the year.

With his law degree, Ron was named assistant counsel for American General and put in charge of government affairs. In 1976, after spending 12 years with American General, Ron was hired as regional vice president with the American Insurance Association (AIA) where he assumed responsibility for eight states. In 2003, Ron retired from AIA and began consulting for insurance industry organizations until 2013. During his career he served as a delegate for several People to People International Ambassador and Texas State Bar trips, which included Russia and Cuba.

Ron was passionate about many things, and topping the list were his love for the Lord, the mountains, his children/grandchildren, traveling, and honoring military veterans. As a devoted father Ron’s travel adventures only began once his children were older.

When Ron was a young boy, his family took vacations to Colorado, New Mexico and California which sparked his love for the mountains. He made solo treks to Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest Base Camp. One of his favorite cities in the whole world was Santa Fe, New Mexico, so much so that his daughters took him there to celebrate his 80th birthday.

Ron was a devout Christian and was fortunate enough to have experienced two life changing trips to the Holy Land. One of his favorite things to say was “live in such a way that those who know you but don’t know God will come to know God because they know you.” Ron had an exquisite sense of humility, kindness and generosity which came from a deep place of knowing his worth and value in God.

His family meant more to him than anything else in the world and he was unendingly proud of his five children and nine grandchildren. He made sure that each one had every opportunity available to them and he was very proud of that. Ron loved spending time with his family and set an example by being the one who always showed up, no matter what, whether a baby was born, a graduation, a holiday celebration, a birthday, soccer game, dance recital, etc. He often would say that family is the most important thing in the world, next to God. More importantly, he not only said that, but modeled it through his actions.

Ron had a passion for honoring veterans, which began with his relationships with his Uncle Fletcher Dill Jr. who was paralyzed in a tank explosion during the Battle of the Bulge, his Uncle P.J. Tate who served in WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War, his brother Jerry Cobb who served in the US Marines Reserve for six years, and his son Scott Cobb whom he was proudly able to watch graduate from basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia and who served in the US Army for two years. Later in life, Ron visited the beaches of Normandy and the hallowed Ardennes region to honor fallen heroes. He helped organize a tribute to Reagan High School WWII veterans in Houston as well as a memorial for his Uncle P.J. Tate at the Pacific War Museum in Fredericksburg.

Ron was predeceased by his mother and father, and his daughter, Christi Cobb. He is survived by: His brother Jerry Cobb (Joan). His children, Deb Cobb, Scott Cobb, Julie Perez (Bobby Perez), and Jenny Seger (Mickey Seger). His grandchildren Alex Chester, Max, Jack, Ben, Lily and Tate Seger, and Chris (Molly), Brianna, and Nick Perez. His stepdaughter Natalie (Beneke) Rentfrow. Ron was also excited to be adding the new role of great-grandfather in June 2023 to Chris and Molly’s daughter.

Services will be held at Westover Hills Church of Christ in Austin, Texas on February 24, 2023, at 11:00 am. Visitation will be available to all at 10:00 am on that same date. Burial services will be held on February 25, 2023, at 2:00 pm at Woodlawn Funeral Home Gardens of Memories in Houston, Texas, where he will be laid to rest next to his mother and father. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Christian Aid Ministries, an organization that provides free Bibles, as Ron always said that everyone should have access to a Bible, or to an organization of your choosing that supports military veterans.

In closing, Ron’s goofy sense of humor would want to say: “Happy trails!”