Ronald Gene Moran was the second of twin boys, born August 16, 1947, in Rapid City, South Dakota, and he cherished the memories created during the summers he spent on his grandfather’s farm outside of Murdo, South Dakota.
As a teenager, Ron’s family moved to Thornton, Colorado. At age 18, Ron found his niche in life when Jack Kent, foreman of Christensen, started Tri-Con Construction and hired and trained him to operate heavy equipment. Jack would eventually become both a mentor and a lifelong, respected friend.
Answering his country’s call, Ron entered the U.S. Army on December 5, 1967. He served with honor in the 18th Combat Engineers in Vietnam, building fire bases, delivering supplies and operating heavy equipment for a variety of tasks. Surviving the enemy, poisonous snakes, booby traps and more, his tour in Vietnam finally ended a year later. Ron is a lifetime member of VFW Post 7945 and American Legion Post #0161.
His job was waiting for him when he returned from Vietnam, and he spent the next 44 years in the earth-moving business, working for such companies as Winslow, Tower, Bussard, Eisenhower, Tarco and Kiewit Construction Companies, to name only a few. Ron was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers since 1971.
Ron married Carolyn on May 29, 1976, adopting her son as his own a short time later. He lived a simple life, enjoying the outdoors and activities such as fishing, target shooting, entertaining his grandchildren and traveling the western U.S. for both personal and professional reasons.
In his final years, Cody, his beloved dog and best buddy, could be found walking with Ron around the neighborhood, saying hello and talking with neighbors.
Ron was preceded in death by his mother, Lorraine (Nelson) Moran; his father, Robert O. Moran; and his twin brother, Robert “Clancy” Moran. He is survived by his younger siblings: brother, Danny and his wife Carla, younger brother, Pat; and his sister, Deborah, all of Colorado. He leaves behind his wife of 43 years, Carolyn; his son, John; his grandchildren, Paxton and Carson; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Berean Baptist Church Building Fund, 39801 N. Prince Ave., San Tan Valley, AZ 85140.
Ron Moran’s Celebration of Life with army military honors will take place Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 11:00am at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85024.
A luncheon will follow and directions will be handed out at the cemetery.