Ronald Smithers

Funeral services for Mr. Ronald “Ronnie” Smithers, age 66, a lifelong Norman resident, will begin at 2:00 pm Thursday, August 30, 2012 in The Chapel of the Havenbrook Funeral Home, 3401 Havenbrook Street in Norman with Chaplain Mike Bumgarner officiating.

The Smithers family will greet friends from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at the funeral home.

Ronnie was born February 16, 1946 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the son of Mary Virginia (Hill) Smithers. He passed away Monday afternoon, August 27, 2012 at the Norman Regional Hospital following a brief illness.

Ronnie attended the Norman Public Schools, graduating from Norman High School in 1964. Later, he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance in 1970. During college, Ronnie worked for the Sooner Superette and Norman Regional Hospital.

After completing college, Ronnie went to work at the Oklahoma City Zoo for a brief time before beginning a job making ornamental concrete with his grandfather. He later began his own business, Pioneer Landscape Nursery, working in this before beginning a career with the Friends Federal Credit Union of Norman. Ronnie spent the next 32 years as the President of the credit union. He was still with Friends Federal Credit Union at the time of his death.

Ronnie was united in marriage to Dorothy Lee Wimsett on July 24, 1976 in Oklahoma City and she later preceded him in death on September 24, 1978.

Ronnie later married Karen Sue Gunter on August 9, 1990 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ronnie and Karen enjoyed traveling and visiting casinos. He also enjoyed a good round of golf with his family and friends and would often remark that, “it's five o'clock somewhere,” enjoying a nice refreshing adult beverage. When he wasn't traveling or golfing, Ronnie could be found on the computer, surfing the web and researching new places to visit or eat.

He was known to his grandchildren as “Just Grandpa” and earned the title in the eyes of his youngest granddaughter as the “best maker of Mac & Cheese in the world”. To his family, he also was known to make the best chili, known as “Ron's Chili.” He will be missed by his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Karen, of the home; one son, David Wimsett of Norman; five daughters, DeRhonda Adkins of Oklahoma City, Dianna Grow and her husband, Mark of Moore, Oklahoma, Denise Pyle and her husband, Ron of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Kellie Hosty and her husband, Michael of Norman, Oklahoma, Karena Crawford and her husband, Eric of Norman, Oklahoma; six grandchildren; Kimberly Pennala and her husband, Alex of Mustang, Oklahoma, Kristen Holmes of Moore, Oklahoma, Kyla Richardson and her husband, Jerial of Bethany, Oklahoma, Liam Hosty of Norman, Oklahoma, Erin, Ember and Carys Crawford all of Norman, Oklahoma; four great grandchildren; Leccy Holmes, Ali, Mason and Melvin Richardson; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mary Ellen and Donald Gunter of Logansport, Indiana; and one uncle, Don Smithers and his wife, Merle of Sugarland, Texas; and many family members and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Virginia Smithers, his maternal grandparents, Dick and Thelma Hill, his paternal grandparents, two uncles, Jack Hill and his wife, Betty and Bunker Hill and his wife, Edith, and one cousin, Jim Hill.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Jim Cullins, Gordon Sennhenn, Dick Whitsitt, Lloyd Bush, and Ken White.

Arrangements for Ronnie and his family were placed in the care of the Vice family at the Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman.

Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com