Ronald "Ron" Cole Carter

RONALD (RON) COLE CARTER

Ronald (Ron) Cole Carter was born on September 23,1948, in Woodland, California, and passed away on January 2, 2025, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Ron was meant to be a California resident. He loved nature in all her glory–the mountains, rivers, trails, forest and most certainly the ocean.

The Carter family moved to Dale, Oklahoma, when Ron started the sixth grade. He graduated as a Dale Pirate in 1967. At Dale High School, Ron excelled in academics, leadership, and agriculture. He served as president of his FFA Chapter, was a Student Council Representative, involved in Business Leadership, and had exceptional typing skills, consistently achieving over 80 words per minute.

Among his many accomplishments, Ron won the Sears Grand Champion guilt and the Reserve Champion Duroc hog at the county fair, a testament to his dedication and work ethic. Ron was always a worker and a planner. In high school and college, he drove a US Postal truck on weekends to pay for his schooling.

After high school, Ron pursued higher education at Murray State College in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, earning his Associate’s Degree before moving to the University of Oklahoma in Norman. He was so excited to become a Sooner. There, he developed a deep passion for History, Law, and Politics that would stay with him throughout his life.

Ron’s time at OU coincided with the Vietnam War protests. Military Police from Tinker Field were called to help monitor the activities, sparking Ron’s curiosity about the police side of military service.

In March of 1971, the Vietnam War was raging, and Ron enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Military Policeman to serve his country.

Stationed in Da Nang, Vietnam during his year of “theater,” just 50 miles from the DMZ, Ron served with courage and distinction. Ron, courageously, was one of the very last soldiers to evacuate the city of Da Nang while the city fell to advancing forces. After Vietnam, Ron was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, DC, where he continued his military duties.

Ron served as security detail for Air Force One as well as protection detail for President Nixon and the Secretary of State Henry Kessinger. Twice recognized in Air Force Magazine, as Airman of the quarter, Ron was honorably discharged in 1974, and continued as a reservist for two years.

Returning to Oklahoma, Ron went to work for the Pinkerton’s Agency out of the Lincoln Plaza district.

In 1975, Ron accepted an offer from Braniff Airlines in Dallas, Texas. He loved the freedom of this career. He met friends from all over the world and worked in many departments like ticketing, baggage, and directional for inbound/outbound planes, along with his favorite, customer service. Braniff transferred Ron to several hubs, Washington DC, Kansas City and San Francisco. Ron maximized Braniff’s perks–including for his family and friends by flying on the “stand by” option.

After Braniff, Ron returned to his previous training of security and policing. Ron was employed for the next ten years by the Navy working as full-time security with the rank of Lieutenant until California closed the Naval base.

For the next eleven years, Ron worked in security at the San Francisco VA Federal facility where he retired in 2011.

After retirement, Ron was elected as Union President for the local Federal Chapter. Ron passionately fought for worker’s rights. His job was primarily to make guidelines, bargain for rights, and to advise union workers about grievances. He encouraged unity and empowerment for all Union workers. His efforts even took him to Washington, DC to lobby and represent his California Union. Proudly, he met with the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, to share his concern about the direction of his Union.

In 2011, Ron made the selfless decision to return to Oklahoma and sacrificed his life in California to be near to and “drive Miss Daisy,” his mother, Dorothy Carter. They were good for each other, worthy warriors of any conversation. Both were well read and passionate about the things they believed. Dorothy would give him grief about how he drove, which is ironic, because it was Ron who had the foresight to help his mom buy her first automatic car, and taught her how to drive in the church parking lot. When Carole asked if he missed his sweet mother, his reply was, “Only every day!”

Despite battling Parkinson’s disease, Ron remained optimistic, consistently never complaining, exercised, read fervently, ate healthy, watched MSNBC, discussed presidents and wars, volunteered at the Dale Cemetery, continued to inspire those around him, and Loved Opie.

Fly away Ron. No more cold iron shackles on your feet; Fly Away, Oh Glory, Fly Away!

Preceding Ron in death are: his mother, Dorothy June Carter, his brothers: Kenneth Carter, Kelly Carter, Ricky Carter, Michael Scott Carter, his sister, Karen June Carter, and his sister-in-law, Alice Carter.

Ron is survived by his siblings, including his sisters: Cecey Plunkett and Carole Carter, and his brothers TL Carter, David Carter, Richard Carter, and Dean Carter. His brother and sister-in-laws include: John Plunkett, Mike Conaway, Cindy Carter, Kathleen Carter, Kristy Carter, Chong Carter, Carol Testa, and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial service will be held at 9:00 a.m., Monday, January 13, 2025 at Cooper Funeral Home Chapel under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.  Committal service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, January 13, 2025 at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery.