William Ronald Smythe

The pioneering educator passed away last Friday after a short illness. At 86, his mind and spirit remained strong to the end as he spent his last hours at Providence Regional Medical Center with his family by his side.

Though long-retired, Ron leaves his indelible print on the Tulalip Reservation and Marysville community, the place he began his leadership career in public education, and the place he embraced as his home.

There is a reason he never left.

It was 1965, after earning his Bachelor's degree in education from Whitworth University. Ron and his wife Venus, a nurse, moved with their 11-year-old daughter Deborah and 7-year-old son Mark to the coast of Puget Sound, where he accepted his first position as a principal at Tulalip Elementary School.

Ron and his family immersed themselves in their adopted community as the children joined new friends in the classroom and Venus soon became a nurse in the Marysville School District.

For the next 27 years, Ron would hold a variety of leadership positions throughout the school system, launching new programs and approaches to education that enriched the lives of thousands upon thousands of students until his retirement in 1992.

One accomplishment of which Ron was particularly proud, was his role in writing grants that helped establish one of the earliest Headstart programs in the country, and later, a school breakfast and nutrition program at the elementary school.

Ron and family shared a passion for the Hawaiian Islands and traveled there frequently.

Ron is survived by his two children; daughter, Deborah Smythe-Binford of Seattle, WA, son, Mark Smythe and his wife Kathy of Tulalip, WA, his loving partner, Elaine Ruddell of Tulalip, WA; grandchildren, Shannon Hotchkiss, of Seattle, WA, Ryan Binford of San Francisco, CA; great grandchildren, Cole and Dean. Ron is also survived by Mark’s three children, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Venus Smythe (1998).

A public gathering for a Celebration of Life will be held, Saturday, February 20, 2016, 1:00 pm at Schaefer-Shipman, 804 State Avenue, Marysville, WA 98270.

Memorial donations can be made to Children’s Hospital, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105