Ronald Dean Eveland

Ronald Dean Eveland was born January 12, 1940 to Fred Daniel and Dorothea Irene (Grubbs) Eveland, in Artesia, California. He was baptized as a toddler at the Historic Artesia Methodist Church, which has evolved into today's Artesia Cerritos United Methodist Church, where he is currently a member. The Celebration of his Life will be conducted there on March 2, 2024 at 11:00 AM with Pastors Robin Kim and Brian Kelly officiating.

Ron grew up in the rural dairy community of Artesia where he defined his childhood as being "free range." He just had to be home by dark! During those years he was a paper boy for the Los Angeles Examiner and Long Beach Press Telegram newspapers, and also mowed lawns for the neighbors. He enjoyed Boy Scouts during his youth.

When he was 16 he earned his Amateur Radio "Ham" License, a hobby he enjoyed the remainder of his life. His first radio call was W6HFZ, but later, after he earned his extra class license, he changed it to W6QM. His "Ham" radio hobby allowed him to talk to other "Hams" all over the world, several of whom hosted he and his wife as they traveled. Ron had several life-long very close friends who were "Hams."

He graduated from Artesia High School in the class of 1958, the first full four year class in the relatively new school. He then entered the also new Cerritos College where he majored in Electrical Engineering. About a year or so later he dropped out of college and went to work for North American Aviation in Downey, California.

Recognizing his Class A status in the military draft, he decided to enlist in the US Army in 1962. After basic training at Fort Ord in Monterey, California, he was stationed briefly in Woodstock, Maryland, before being transferred to Ludwigsburg, Germany where he was stationed for two years. His position in Germany was that of the company clerk, an experience that would later influence his re-entry into college. While in Germany he was able to establish a "Ham" radio station in his barracks and operated under a German License with a radio call of DL5ER. He attained a Specialist 5 military rank before returning home in 1965 and being honorably discharged

After his return from Germany, Ron reconnected with his childhood friend, Delores Yvonne Buell and they were married on June 25, 1966 in Lakewood, California. Delores and Ron first met when they were about nine years old and were next door neighbors. After their marriage they made their first home in Lakewood, however, after five years they moved to Cerritos where they have lived for 53 years. They would have celebrated 58 years of marriage in June of 2024.

While working full time, Ron soon returned to college changing his major to Business, after the influence of his military experience; he graduated from Cerritos College with an Associates Degree in Accounting in 1970. He then transferred to California State University Long Beach where he continued his studies and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Manpower Management in 1977.

Ron was employed in the Aero-Space industry for 35 years. He first worked, prior to his military service, at North American Aviation in Downey, but later transferred to the Autonetics Division of North American in Anaheim, California. In 1971 he was transferred, as a Project Manager, to an experimental division, Irvine Electronics where they manufactured retail products. In 1989 he returned to Anaheim where he continued to work as a Project Manager on many Space Programs until his retirement in 1995. Throughout his career the company name changed several times as the result of mergers and acquisitions. Though he never worked for Boeing, he was retired from that company.

Throughout his life Ron taught himself how to perform any kind of task he was interested in, whether it was automobile or home construction repairs. In 1975 he and Delores purchased a vacant lot in the local mountains and contracted the construction of cabin shell. Ron later finished the interior of what became a three bedroom two bath home, including building a fireplace. He did many construction projects on his primary home. He often called his wife "Mrs. Winchester" since she always had a project for him to undertake. (For those that don't understand the reference to Mrs. Winchester, it relates to the famous Winchester Mansion in Northern California. That Mrs. Winchester believed she was immortal as long as she had some kind of building going on in her home.) This reference shows what a good sense of humor Ron enjoyed. During his life he did outstanding carpentry, masonry and auto repair work.

Ron and Delores loved traveling. In 1995 they entered the recreational vehicle world when they bought a fifth-wheel travel trailer. They traveled across North America twice, the first for seven months in 1995, then five months in 1996. Through the years they took many RV trips, domestic and international tours and world cruises. They visited the UK, much of Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East including Israel and Petra in Jordon, Egypt and the Valley of the Kings, Asia including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and Australia and New Zealand. He enjoyed 29 years of retirement.

During his retirement, Ron enjoyed some volunteerism. He was Chairman of the President's Scholars Program at CSULB, a favorite group of then university President Robert Maxom, which supported a group of honor students. Another area at CSULB he enjoyed was the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, where he both volunteered and attended performances. Within his home community he was a member of the Friends of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts and participated in the planning of several Galas, two of which he co-chaired. He supported his wife's interest in history by joining the Artesia Historical Society, where he held the office of Museum Operations. As a radio Ham, he was a longtime member of the Downey Amateur Radio Club. He held several offices in that group.

Ron was predeceased by his parents; his sister and brother-in-law Joan Alice (Eveland) and Jimmy Lehning; and a nephew Larry Michael Lehning. He is survived by his wife, Delores Eveland; three sons, Scott Eugene, Richard Dean, and Paul Daniel Eveland; his daughter-in-law, Laurie Ann Eveland; nine grandchildren: Kristen Marie, Derek Eugene, Stephanie Ann, Jessica Nichole, Curtis Richard, Manuel Forrest, Christian Rudy, Tyler Ronald, and Serena Lynn; seven great-grandchildren: Gabriel Anthony, Farris Richard, Xander David, Emery Rose, Harper Zoey, Lillian Rayne and Olivia Yvonne; one great-great-grandson, Xavier Marshall; two nieces Lori Ann and Lynn Marie; and three nephews Timothy Lane, Richard Brian and Mark Stephen.

Burial will be with the family and invited guests only Saturday March 2, 2024 at 9:30 AM at the Historic Artesia Cemetery District. Pallbearers will be: Tim Bell, Brian Bell, Mark Bell, Manuel Hammer, Christian Hammer, Tyler Eveland and Derek Eveland. Arrangements are through White's Funeral Home in Bellflower, California.