Ronald Lee Huff

Ronald Lee Huff, a veteran of the Vietnam War and longtime resident of Anahuac Texas, passed away in Dallas, Texas on May 27, 2023, surrounded by his beautiful wife, Roylenne, and family. Ron, or Ronnie as he was known to many, was born on January 2,1947 to JD and Norma (Browning) Huff and graduated from Anahuac High School in 1965 before enlisting in the United States Navy. Shortly after graduating high school and just prior to reporting to boot camp, Ron asked the love of his life and high school sweetheart to marry him. Roylenne quickly said yes, they were married on June 8, 1966, and moved to California to begin their lives together.

As a Petty Officer First Class for the U.S. Navy, Ron fought for our country in Vietnam, and had many amazing stories of his service including his travels around the world, to name a few - Japan, the Mediterranean, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Canary Islands, Malta, and Taiwan. Ron spoke often about his time in the U.S. Navy, and he was a proud Veteran taking great honor and pride in serving his country.

Ron was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for meritorious service in Taiwan. He was attached to the Armed Services Police, Headquarters Support Activity, Taiwan, from December 1969 to December 1971. Then served at Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, N.M., where he attended the Command Nuclear Weapons School. Ron was cited by Air Force Maj. Gen. Francis W. Nye of the Defense Nuclear Agency at Kirtland for his service in the areas of law enforcement and customs control, and for displaying utmost diplomacy and sound judgment in sensitive situations with personnel of the Chinese armed forces.

Following the Vietnam War, Ron and his family began an amazing adventure and moved to Taipei, Taiwan for several years. At the time of moving abroad, his daughter, Becky, was 1 year old and his daughter, Roni, was later born on the U.S. Naval Base. Ron and Roylenne cherished their time in Taiwan and returned to the States and California in 1975.

After 10 years of service, Ron made the most difficult decision to end his military service and return to Texas with his family where they lived close to Ron’s beloved grandmother, Ola Bell (Franklin) Huff, in Gladewater. With an opportunity to join Exxon Mobil, they chose to move back to Anahuac where Ron began his 23-year career. He enjoyed fishing and golfing with friends along with giving all he had to his family. There was no question that family was everything to Ron.

Growing up, Ron was a talented basketball player and runner. He loved telling stories of his athletic days at Anahuac High School along with sharing memories of being coached by who would later become his father-in-law, Gid Campbell. Ron was an avid sports fan and the biggest cheerleader for his daughters and later his grandchildren. And everyone who knew Ron was aware of his absolute love for the game of basketball and all things running. One of his greatest joys in life was watching his daughters and grandchildren hit the basketball court and run in track and cross-country meets. Ron also had great pride in watching his granddaughter, Jessie Lea, grow from an aspiring young artist to an accomplished photographer.

Ron and Roylenne loved to travel. They thoroughly enjoyed exploring with friends and family. Special times that Ron talked about often was a Hawaiian vacation with their lifelong, dear friends, Bubba & Annette Abernathy; a trip to Vegas and New Orleans with Roylenne’s sister, Rebecca Church; countless Crazy Cousin Reunions which are priceless events planned throughout Texas and beyond; and many family vacations with Roylenne & his daughters - including a weeklong road trip from Lake Tahoe to San Francisco with many stops to golf that was especially cherished by all four of the Huffs prior to Becky getting married.

After their two daughters graduated from college and upon retirement, Ron and Roylenne moved from Anahuac and enjoyed traveling full time, coast to coast around our great country in their RV. Ron thoroughly enjoyed this peaceful time of his life. They later settled in Georgetown, Texas to spend quality time with their pride and joys, their 5 grandchildren living in Austin and Dallas. The love and devotion Ron had for his grandchildren was tremendous. His grandchildren will sorely miss their Papaw.

Ron was loved tremendously by his family. He was giving, caring and a complete push over when it came to his grandchildren. Ron loved to talk for hours on the phone with his friends or family, especially about his daughters, grandchildren, sports, politics, history, and the military. He was an avid history lover and full of facts both historically and completely random. He was a jokester just like his grandfather, Dewey George Huff. He was always there for his family. He could be counted on no matter what the circumstances to be there for family, friends, or complete strangers.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents and his favorite aunt, Dorothy Lee (Huff) Dunlap. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Roylenne Netrail (Estes/Campbell) Huff his sister, Sheila Anne (Huff) Harrison, and daughters Rebecca (Phil) Heller and Roni Wilson, as well as five

grandchildren Jackson, Jessie and Cooper Heller and Ben and Ian Wilson along with nephew Stephen “Steve” Curtis Harrison and many cherished cousins and friends.

The family wishes to give special thanks to Dr. Sandra Peterson and the many, many caretakers and providers at The Preston of the Park Cities in Dallas, Texas who gave such special care and compassion during the last days and months of Ron’s life. These wonderful people became a second family to the Huff's.

Honoring Ron's wishes, a private military ceremony will be held at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery to celebrate his service and life on January 2, 2024, which would have been his 77th birthday.

The family requests those who wish to express sympathies consider donating to the National Honor Flight Network, honorflight.org, in his name. Ron was a proud Honor Flight participant and truly experienced the honor, gratitude and community of support he and every veteran des

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/irving-tx for the Huff family.