| Graduation Year | Class of 1968 |
| Date of Passing | Feb 28, 2017 |
| About | Ronald Lucas Rankin, of Yakima, WA passed away peacefully at the Cottage In The Meadow on February 8, 2017 at the age of 67, surrounded by family and friends. Ron was born on October 13, 1949, in Moscow, Idaho, the second of four children, to Adelbert Richard “Dick” and Barbara “Babs” Rankin. His family moved to Yakima in 1951 when Dick was promoted to Store Manager of the local Firestone Tire Store. Ron graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1968 and Washington State University in 1976 with a Business Degree. He also earned an A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) Degree in 1988 from South Seattle community College. Ron and Debie Roether were married September 1975. They spent many weekends at Seattle and Portland International Raceways, Deer Park and Westwood B.C., where Ron competed in his Datsun 510 and was a top contender in his class. They also enjoyed boating, waterskiing and remodeling their 1920’s Linden Way home. Their daughter Kathleen was born in July 1984 and their son Andrew was born in April 1987. Ron accomplished so much in the time he was given. He was a gifted electronic and mechanical technician, built a miniature hydroplane in his early teens, followed his passion for flying by obtaining his private pilot license at the age of 18 under the instruction of Charlie McAllister and loved sports car racing, both as a driver and crew member of the Michelob Mercedes race team. Ron enjoyed vacationing at Priest Lake, Sunriver and the Oregon Coast with his family. He loved and attended many regional and national air shows. He especially loved volunteering at the Yakima Air Show and collecting many “OOPS” t-shirts. Ron’s professional career was diverse. He delivered the Herald-Republic in his early teens, worked at Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in Union Gap, and was a renowned field technician for Bandag, a premiere retreading manufacturer with worldwide recognition, working out of Muscatine, Iowa. After graduating from WSU Ron returned to Yakima working at Tire Sales and Service, followed by Aumiller-Calhoun Real Estate Company as an agent where he became interested in building homes and developing property. Ron is survived by his two children, Kathleen of Salem, OR, and Andrew of Yakima, an adorable grandson, Brayden of Salem, OR, his mother Barbara Rankin of Yakima, two brothers, Del (Sara) of Yakima and Tod of Grand Terrace, CA, his sister Becky McDonald of Yakima, his former wife Debie Rankin of Yakima and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his father, Dick Rankin in 2006. Ron will be remembered and missed by his family, friends, and close-knit Coffee Group, many of whom helped him as he had always helped them. A Memorial Service will be held to honor the life of Ron on Saturday, June 17th at 11:00 am at Brookside Funeral Home (500 W. Prospect, Moxee, WA 98936). There will be a reception to follow. To leave a message or a memory for the family please go to www.brooksidefhc.com. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Yakima Herald Republic, Yakima, WA June 2, 2017 |
