1935
Ronald
2018
Ronald G. Reeves
August 6, 1935 — February 5, 2018
For six decades, Ron was a champion for Terre Haute - especially for its philanthropic community - and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, being affectionately known as "Mr. Rose-Hulman" for his dedication to the college and its students. His work in philanthropy started as early as the 6th grade when he was president of the Junior Red Cross and collected paper for the War Drive. During his college years at Rose Polytechnic Institute (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology), he helped his fraternity Alpha Tau Omega with Heart Association's Tag Day collections. This, however, was only the tip of the iceberg in terms of his service. After receiving his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Rose-Hulman in 1958, Ron joined the U.S. Army Reserve and served as Captain CE USAR until 1966.
Upon his return to Terre Haute from the Army, he chaired "Heart Sunday" for the Heart Association. The largest amount of money raised during Heart Sunday was raised the year Ron chaired the one day event. Ron's friends and colleagues would attribute this to his sheer dedication, his tremendous organizational skills and his ability to motivate others.
Following that triumphant success, Ron joined the Development Office at Rose-Hulman. At this time, college development was a fairly new field. Not being a man content with the way things were, Ron worked extensively with the development officers of other Indiana private colleges. He served on a Steering Committee for Lilly Endowment to plan training courses in higher education development. The extensive nature of fundraising development in private and public higher education is due in part to the pioneering spirit of individuals such as Ron. In appreciation of his work, Ron received the Alumni Association's Honor Alumni Award in 1977. Two decades later, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Rose-Hulman. He also received the President's Outstanding Service Award and was inducted into Rose-Hulman's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005 for his many contributions and support to the institute's student-athletes, coaches and athletic teams - being the Fightin' Engineers' "No. 1 Fan in the stands."
Anyone who knew Ron knew he was not a person to wait for things to happen; he made things happen. Ron was truly committed to improving the community. On the first Thursday in June, you could find Ron working the Strawberry Festival for First Congregational Church, where he served as both chair of the event and chair of its Finance Committee for several years. In October, he was flipping pancakes or clearing tables at the Greater Terre Haute Kiwanis Club's pancake dinner. He remained actively involved in the Kiwanis Club, the Wabash Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America, TREES, Inc., Banks of the Wabash Festival, Wabash Valley Family Sports Center, the Terre Haute Area Chamber of Commerce, the Swope Art Museum Board, and served on the Wabash Valley Community Foundation Board for the maximum term length and served as president for two years.
He received the Terre Award from the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce and Chapman S. Root Award from Hospice of the Wabash Valley for his generosity, leadership and service to local organizations and philanthropic causes. In a professional capacity, Ron was a former president of the Indiana Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and as president and state director of the Francis Vigo chapter of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers. He also served as region director of Junior Engineering Technical Society.
Ron is survived by his aunt, Betty Frazier of Terre Haute; cousins, Betty Marie Schneider of Lafayette, Louisiana, Ruth Kennedy of Florida, Carol Bowman of Terre Haute, Cathy Frazier Denny and her girls Sydney and Chloe Denny of Terre Haute, John Rice, wife Jessica and their girls Maggie and Kristen Rice of Terre Haute, April Rice, husband Andy and their sons Drew and Tyler of Virginia Beach, VA and Connie Sue Mista of St. Augustine, Florida; and special friends Vern and Janice Fellows, Lucas and Logan Steward, and Karen and John Henderson.
Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2018 in First Congregational Church, 630 Ohio Street, with Reverend Steve Moore, Tom Dinkel, and Beth Tevlin officiating. Visitation will be prior to services from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the church. Private burial will be in Highland Lawn Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 S. 25th Street. If friends should so desire, memorial contributions may be made to Rose-Hulman at 5500 Wabash Ave, Terre Haute, IN 47803 or visit the link http://bit.ly/2sjVZ10 or donations can be made to the Wabash Valley Community Foundation, c/o Ronald G. Reeves Endowment Fund, 200 South 8th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807 or wabashvalleygives.com/ronreevesmemorial.
Pallbearers will be John Rice, Lucas Steward, John Henderson, Jack Fenoglio, Benjamin Waite, Dave Piker and Tim Snedeker and Honorary Pallbearers will be Vern Fellows, Kent Harris, Bill Sisson and Bob Newby.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ronald G. Reeves, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Saturday, February 10, 2018
10:00am - 1:00 pm (Eastern time)
First Congregational Church
Service
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Starts at 1:00 pm (Eastern time)
First Congregational Church
Guestbook
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