Ronald Dobelbower
Bethalto |
Ronald Frederick Dobelbower, 83, beloved of his family and friends, passed away Monday, September 23, 2013 after a short and valiantly fought bout with cancer. An extraordinary husband, father, son, church and community member, Ron will be sorely missed by all whose lives were touched by his constancy and care. Ronald’s memory will be specially treasured and lovingly kept alive by his wife, Lillian, to whom he was married on December 8, 2001. He is also survived by his daughter Cherie Osswald and her husband Thomas and their children Charles and Gillian; his son Kevin Dobelbower and his wife Donna Teekell; his daughter Lynne Johnson and her husband Eric and their children Aaron, Evan, Nicholas, and Elizabeth; his son Mark Dobelbower and his wife Peggy and their children Adam and Brooke; and his cherished companion Blackie the cat. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth Dobelbower (nee Snodgrass), dear mother of Ron’s four children; his brother, Earl; and his parents, Clarence and Marjorie Dobelbower.
Born to loving and godly parents, Clarence and Marjorie Dobelbower, May 25, 1930, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Ron relocated with his parents and younger brother Earl to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he graduated from Central High School. After attending Oklahoma Baptist University, lending his considerable athletic prowess to the basketball team, Ron transferred to the University of Tulsa, where he graduated with a major in education and a minor in business. After being introduced via mutual friends, Ron married Elizabeth at the First Baptist Church of Tulsa in 1950.
Ron served in the U. S. Army, stationed in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and was a top scoring candidate on the Officer’s Training Corp exam in 1954.
Ron always highly valued education, and with Elizabeth, strove to provide the very best possible learning opportunities for his children: whenever the family transferred, as Ron moved up the corporate ladder, his first priority was to select excellent schools for his children—they will always be grateful for this special provision, among countless others, he made for his family.
A highly successful businessman, Ron advanced from an energetic and hard-driving traveling account executive for Underwood and Westinghouse corporations, to a dynamic and powerful position as director of national sales for the Lamp Division of Westinghouse (now Philips), where he was honored upon retirement, capping his exemplary career of over 30 years.
Ron began attending First Baptist Church of East Alton, where he met Lillian L. Wilhite. Ron and Lillian married on December 8, 2001. Six years ago, Ron and Lillian joined the Bethalto Church of God community and have been exceedingly joyful in their fellowship there.
With heart-felt appreciation, we smile through our tears as we keep Ron’s memory alive always.
Visitation will be held at Bethalto Church of God, 800 East Bethalto Drive, Bethalto, IL 62010, 4 to 7 pm, Thursday, September 26, 2013. Funeral service will be held at the church at 11:00 am, Friday, September 27, 2013, and will be conducted by Pastors Tim Campbell and Bill Woodworth and Minister Don Arnold.
Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.
In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, Ron asked to have donations made to the Bethalto Church of God Debt Retirement Fund and the Community Hope Center of Cottage Hill, IL.
Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto is in charge with arrangements.
Online condolences and guestbook may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
