Ronald Luna

Barely a new year started and it’s now mid January. We, like many others, are tasked with trying to write a memorial for someone we shared in life and loved dearly—a son, husband, dad, uncle, grandpa & co-worker. A quiet, patient man who blended in with many other quiet, patient people. He was a private person who shared little of the negatives in life and yet, so much of himself.

Ronald Luna passed from our presence on Friday, January 15, 2021, in the VA Medical Center, in Phoenix, AZ, where he was fighting Covid.

He was born on Friday, June 12, 1959, in El Paso, TX, to David & Irene (Garcia) Luna, Sr. Known as Ron by his friends and signed in as Luna with coworkers at Wells Fargo, he lived in TX, NM, and AZ when growing up. During his senior year at Buena High, he joined the military in the deferred program. He started his service in the US Army at Ft Leonard Wood, MO, & spent time in Alaska, Japan, and eventually, was stationed at the DMZ of Korea. He finished in Kentucky where he began to further his education.

Education was important and continuous throughout his life. He obtained an AD at Phoenix College and a dual BS in Business Management / Computer Information Systems from the University of Phoenix. He was adamant about learning new things and continued with courses in IT and security, but had interests in finance, home improvement and travel.

If you asked him, Ron would say he was a “maintenance man.” His career included work in fiber optics (R&D), telecommunications (long distance & television), then at American Express, IBM and finally as a Systems Operations Sr Analyst with Wells Fargo. He’d wake up with a smile saying, “ Hooray! I get to go to work today.”

He was a man of quiet faith as he journeyed through life. Sharing was also a part of his life. He served on the board of local AZ MG support group, assisted with tech support and volunteered cheerfully in places where he lived and worked. He helped others…with words and actions, among family, friends and strangers. He never met a Girl Scout Cookie that he didn’t like…well, except maybe…Thin Mints …

Ron will always be remembered for his great personality and his ability to talk to anyone about anything. He was ALWAYS there when you needed something and would give you the shirt off his back if necessary. He had an infectious laugh and a great sense of humor. He said he was a “stripes and checks kind of guy.” He had a unique fashion sense, so casual, which included his trademark hat & sunglasses, wearing work shirts with someone else’s name on them, and lately maybe to test us, leaving the tag on his clothes.

And he could cook…especially tasty was his breakfast in a burrito! And there was the story of the upside down turkey!

Ron shared more than half of his life with Sally, whom he married on Kaua’i in April 1995. When the locals thought he was Hawaiian and asked him which island he was from, he’d smile and say “the island of Arizona.” Their travels together included trips to Mexico, the Caribbean, NYC for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, US National Parks & cross country trips to visit family and friends in the East.

Ronald is survived by Sally, his wife, son, Matthew (Ashley) Baker & grandchildren (Sarah & Macy), his mother, Irene Simmons, father, David (Ellie) Luna, Sr., three brothers- (Daniel, David Jr, & Paul Luna), two sisters - (Debora Cartmell & Laura Luna) plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Due to Covid concerns no service is scheduled at this time but we anticipate one at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona (Phoenix). We are hoping to use technology to celebrate his life by streaming a memorial in the future.

Memorial contributions: Spontaneously, people ask what they can do. We as his family would like there to be a bit more kindness spread around the world in Ron’s name. In a unique era of isolation, joblessness and personal struggles, we may not know what others are experiencing, take the opportunity and perform a spontaneous kind act…we ask you to do something nice for someone (buy a meal for someone in line behind you, share what you can, make someone smile…) and “Be Like Ron.” Ron favored the Durham VA Hospital and met young doctors in training from Duke University in Durham, NC. We are working to set up a program to help fund several of his interests. Please check back for links.