Ronald Duane Mcarthur
May 10, 1934 — May 28, 2018
Ronald Duane McArthur, 84, was born on May 10, 1934 in Iowa to Melvin and Ruby McArthur and entered into eternal rest on May 28, 2018 in Whittier, California.
Ronnie was the first of four children of Melvin and Ruby. He is survived by his brother Gordon (Linda) McArthur, sister Joyce Braley, and sister Janice (Jim) King.
Ron grew up in Westmont, Illinois, and attended Downers Grove High. He practiced archery with his parents and competed locally in archery contests. Ron also spent his time running with the cross-country team, playing basketball, and working in a series of odd jobs, including grave digging, training hunting dogs, carrying clubs at the local golf course, and bussing tables. He also enjoyed driving his first car, a hand-me-down ’31 Plymouth.
Following his high school graduation in ’52, Ron attended University of Illinois Urbana-Champaigne, majoring in Architecture. At U of I, he also joined the Army ROTC, and took up fencing. By February 1955, Ron and his roommate, Bill, had abandoned their studies for a road trip to California. The guys ran out of money by Phoenix, and although Bill was an aspiring writer, they sold his typewriter to fund the rest of the trip. In California, Ron found work, and temporary lodging with his aunt, Rhoda; in Rhoda’s Sunday school class, he found his future wife, Barbara.
After becoming engaged to Barbara, Ron enlisted in the Army, and was deployed to Germany with the 45th Engineering Battalion. He returned home to California at the end of his enlistment, and married Barbara in 1959. Ron worked as a draftsman and took classes at LACC until their first daughter, Dianne, was born in 1962. Ronnie and Barbara both worked full-time, and they bought their home in Downey soon after Dianne’s birth. The family celebrated the birth of a second daughter, Terry, in ’66.
Ron was a very involved dad, teaching his girls to ride bikes, swim, and catch a softball. Annual family vacations included camping and fishing, fishing, fishing! Photography was also a favorite hobby, and he wore out everybody’s patience, framing the perfect shot. Ron was active with Junior Achievement, helping high school students form temporary businesses to learn entrepreneurial skills. The family’s church home was First Baptist Church of Downey, where Ron and Barbara were involved in the Chi Alpha Sunday School class. Ron kept in shape with lunchtime pick-up basketball and squash with his coworkers at Transamerica.
Barbara’s death in ’77 left Ron alone, raising two girls. It wasn’t long before Ron courted and married his second wife, Arlene. The household expanded to include Arlene and her children, Mark and Rhonda. The family made its home in south Downey. All four of the kids attended FBCD, and all four were graduated from Warren High. As the nest gradually emptied, Ron became busy with teaching fourth grade Sunday School, work on the Missions team, and coaching for the church’s youth basketball league, Kids Play.
Ron’s retirement from Transamerica left the couple free to travel. Favorite trips included the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany, Eastern Europe, the Military Tattoo in Edinburgh, Scotland, and south-east Asia. Mission trips included building basketball courts in Romania, caring for missionary children in southeast Asia, and work on new Wycliff facilities in the US. Frequent visits to Virginia and Texas kept Ron and Arlene close to their grandchildren as well. ‘Papa’ enjoyed building a goat-house and other projects with Ben, as well as being present at his grandchildren’s graduations, weddings, and all kinds of celebrations. Ron and Arlene also enjoyed frequent reunions with Ron’s class from Downer's Grove High, and vacations with Ron’s siblings in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida.
Retirement also afforded Ron time to develop his love of painting. Some of his most admired works included scenes from his travels to Eastern Europe and the California coast. He also enjoyed backyard birding. The pin-tails, orioles, and starlings didn’t complain so much about posing for Ron’s camera.
When not traveling, Ron was a frequent fan at high school football and basketball games. He was quite proud of the neighbor boys, Arthur and Austin and loved watching their football games at Bosco. He was also in regular attendance Warren High football and basketball games.
Ron and Arlene also enjoyed providing gracious hospitality in their own home. It seems that, often as not, one or more family members, or members of the unofficial extended family, may be found at the McArthur house. In the days before his death, Ron was surrounded by family and friends from his faith community - evidence of a life well lived, and people well loved.
In lieu of flowers or memorial gifts, the family encourages donations to the Lymphoma Research Foundation: https://secure3.convio.net/lrf/site/Donation2?1521.donation=form1&df_id=1521&mfc_pref=T
Ronald leaves behind his loving family: Wife, Arlene McArthur of Downey, California, Daughter, Dianne Adams (Gerald) of Placentia, California, Daughter, Terry Appleton (Rod) of Round Hill, Virginia, Step-son, Mark Philpot (Denise) of Denton, Texas, Step-daughter, Rhonda Stankiewicz of Frisco, Texas, Grandson, Kris Philpot (Lindsey) of Rochester, Minnesota, Grandson, Matthew Philpot (Chelsey) of Fort Worth, Texas, Grandson, Reese Adams of Placentia, California, Granddaughter, Kellie Philpot of Flower Mound, Texas, Grandson, Joshua Appleton (Allison) of Bossier City, Louisiana, Grandson, Benjamin Appleton of Round Hill, Virginia, Granddaughter, Emma Appleton of Round Hill, Virginia, Grandson, Evan Adams of Placentia, California, Great-granddaughter, Audrey Grace Appleton of Bossier City, Lousiana, Great-grandson, Harrison Dean Philpot of Fort Worth, Texas, as well as several other family members and friends who loved him and will miss him dearly.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our website.
Ronnie was the first of four children of Melvin and Ruby. He is survived by his brother Gordon (Linda) McArthur, sister Joyce Braley, and sister Janice (Jim) King.
Ron grew up in Westmont, Illinois, and attended Downers Grove High. He practiced archery with his parents and competed locally in archery contests. Ron also spent his time running with the cross-country team, playing basketball, and working in a series of odd jobs, including grave digging, training hunting dogs, carrying clubs at the local golf course, and bussing tables. He also enjoyed driving his first car, a hand-me-down ’31 Plymouth.
Following his high school graduation in ’52, Ron attended University of Illinois Urbana-Champaigne, majoring in Architecture. At U of I, he also joined the Army ROTC, and took up fencing. By February 1955, Ron and his roommate, Bill, had abandoned their studies for a road trip to California. The guys ran out of money by Phoenix, and although Bill was an aspiring writer, they sold his typewriter to fund the rest of the trip. In California, Ron found work, and temporary lodging with his aunt, Rhoda; in Rhoda’s Sunday school class, he found his future wife, Barbara.
After becoming engaged to Barbara, Ron enlisted in the Army, and was deployed to Germany with the 45th Engineering Battalion. He returned home to California at the end of his enlistment, and married Barbara in 1959. Ron worked as a draftsman and took classes at LACC until their first daughter, Dianne, was born in 1962. Ronnie and Barbara both worked full-time, and they bought their home in Downey soon after Dianne’s birth. The family celebrated the birth of a second daughter, Terry, in ’66.
Ron was a very involved dad, teaching his girls to ride bikes, swim, and catch a softball. Annual family vacations included camping and fishing, fishing, fishing! Photography was also a favorite hobby, and he wore out everybody’s patience, framing the perfect shot. Ron was active with Junior Achievement, helping high school students form temporary businesses to learn entrepreneurial skills. The family’s church home was First Baptist Church of Downey, where Ron and Barbara were involved in the Chi Alpha Sunday School class. Ron kept in shape with lunchtime pick-up basketball and squash with his coworkers at Transamerica.
Barbara’s death in ’77 left Ron alone, raising two girls. It wasn’t long before Ron courted and married his second wife, Arlene. The household expanded to include Arlene and her children, Mark and Rhonda. The family made its home in south Downey. All four of the kids attended FBCD, and all four were graduated from Warren High. As the nest gradually emptied, Ron became busy with teaching fourth grade Sunday School, work on the Missions team, and coaching for the church’s youth basketball league, Kids Play.
Ron’s retirement from Transamerica left the couple free to travel. Favorite trips included the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany, Eastern Europe, the Military Tattoo in Edinburgh, Scotland, and south-east Asia. Mission trips included building basketball courts in Romania, caring for missionary children in southeast Asia, and work on new Wycliff facilities in the US. Frequent visits to Virginia and Texas kept Ron and Arlene close to their grandchildren as well. ‘Papa’ enjoyed building a goat-house and other projects with Ben, as well as being present at his grandchildren’s graduations, weddings, and all kinds of celebrations. Ron and Arlene also enjoyed frequent reunions with Ron’s class from Downer's Grove High, and vacations with Ron’s siblings in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida.
Retirement also afforded Ron time to develop his love of painting. Some of his most admired works included scenes from his travels to Eastern Europe and the California coast. He also enjoyed backyard birding. The pin-tails, orioles, and starlings didn’t complain so much about posing for Ron’s camera.
When not traveling, Ron was a frequent fan at high school football and basketball games. He was quite proud of the neighbor boys, Arthur and Austin and loved watching their football games at Bosco. He was also in regular attendance Warren High football and basketball games.
Ron and Arlene also enjoyed providing gracious hospitality in their own home. It seems that, often as not, one or more family members, or members of the unofficial extended family, may be found at the McArthur house. In the days before his death, Ron was surrounded by family and friends from his faith community - evidence of a life well lived, and people well loved.
In lieu of flowers or memorial gifts, the family encourages donations to the Lymphoma Research Foundation: https://secure3.convio.net/lrf/site/Donation2?1521.donation=form1&df_id=1521&mfc_pref=T
Ronald leaves behind his loving family: Wife, Arlene McArthur of Downey, California, Daughter, Dianne Adams (Gerald) of Placentia, California, Daughter, Terry Appleton (Rod) of Round Hill, Virginia, Step-son, Mark Philpot (Denise) of Denton, Texas, Step-daughter, Rhonda Stankiewicz of Frisco, Texas, Grandson, Kris Philpot (Lindsey) of Rochester, Minnesota, Grandson, Matthew Philpot (Chelsey) of Fort Worth, Texas, Grandson, Reese Adams of Placentia, California, Granddaughter, Kellie Philpot of Flower Mound, Texas, Grandson, Joshua Appleton (Allison) of Bossier City, Louisiana, Grandson, Benjamin Appleton of Round Hill, Virginia, Granddaughter, Emma Appleton of Round Hill, Virginia, Grandson, Evan Adams of Placentia, California, Great-granddaughter, Audrey Grace Appleton of Bossier City, Lousiana, Great-grandson, Harrison Dean Philpot of Fort Worth, Texas, as well as several other family members and friends who loved him and will miss him dearly.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our website.
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