Colonel Ronald Charles Estep

Colonel Ronald Charles Estep, U.S. Army, Retired, 88, a resident of Tampa, Florida and Boca Raton, Florida, passed away October 15, 2021. He was born February 8, 1933, in Bastian, Virginia. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Helga Johanna Maria Estep, his parents, Otis V. Estep and Florence Kathleen Hall Estep of Bear, Delaware, a twin brother, Donald H. Estep, Sr., of Bear, Delaware, a son-in-law, Richard W. Coughenour, of Brookfield, Connecticut, and a grandson, Wesley A. Owen of Tampa, Florida. He is survived by three daughters, Patricia Coughenour of Boca Raton, Florida, Kathy (Robert) Merry-Ship of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Elizabeth (Edward) Owen of Lutz, Florida; a grandson Edison (Shaleigh) Owen of Highland Park, Illinois, a granddaughter, Michelle Merry-Ship of Alsting, France, and two great granddaughters, Elise Owen and Annabelle Owen of Highland Park, Illinois. Colonel Estep devoted thirty-two years of service to our country in a distinguished career during peacetime and war. He began his military career as an enlisted soldier, prior to attending Officers Candidate School in 1958. In 1982, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Officers Candidate School Hall of Fame. Colonel Estep was an Armored Cavalry officer who commanded the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and the U.S. Army Training Area in Hohenfels, Germany. He was a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. His assignments included many locations throughout the United States, as well as Austria, Germany, Korea, and Vietnam. Colonel Estep was the recipient of numerous awards and decorations, including the Combat Infantry Badge, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, a Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Germany Cross of Honor, and various other medals, awards, decorations, citations, and campaign ribbons. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Humanities from St. Benedict’s College and a Master of Science degree in Education from Boston University. Services will be held November 16, 2021, at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 9724 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33647. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. A Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m., with a reception immediately following in the adjoining St. Mark’s Venetian Event Center. Burial in Arlington National Cemetery date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations be made to the Fisher House Foundation. Fisher House provides comfort and lodging for families of military service members and veterans receiving care at major military and VA medical centers. Donations may be made online or by mail. Please visit their website at https://fisherhouse.org for donation instructions.