Take a rest Gramp, I'll take the wheel from here...
On Tuesday September 3, 2019 in the late evening, Ronald (Ron) Dean Debler, age 79, of Lake Havasu City, AZ, did just that, he passed the steering wheel on to his traveling companion and grandson Corky.
Ron was born on May 11, 1940 to Robert and Grace (Adams) Debler in Cedar City, UT. He was the 2nd of 6 children and had lots of stories to tell about growing up in a big family, working hard at the sawmill and driving logging trucks for his Pop at a very early age. He and his brother would occasionally take off and hitch hike across the country or jump a freight train back when you could get away with that kind of thing. Although he wasn't much for going to school, he did believe in it for others. Ron attended high school in Provo, UT and later married the love of his life, Joyce Lee Aguiar on April 14, 1958 in Ukiah, CA. They had two children, Debra and Ronald Jr.
Ron worked as a mechanic and was a true natural at it. He loved helping young kids who wanted to work as a mechanic, some are still in that field and remember Ron fondly. Ron loved driving, in his free time he enjoyed building race cars and drag racing from the early years in Ukiah, Ca. at the local fairgrounds to the Orange County Raceway, Lions Drag Strip and the Irwindale Raceway in Southern California, where he moved his family in the mid 60's to be in Huntington Beach with his parents and his siblings who he loved very much. His family was always there to support and cheer him on no matter where he was racing. He later traveled across the United States to deliver motorhomes for Beaver, Safari and Monaco Coaches and he would sneak his grandson along for the ride. He loved gambling, fishing and all the fishing tales, boating and snowmobiling with family and friends in Bend Oregon where he and Joyce lived for many years. Even when he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in his 40's he didn't let that stop him, he kept living life and driving, which was his real true passion to the very end even when dementia took his ability to physically drive, his mind kept him on the road, until he passed the wheel to another... He always said, quit your job on Wednesday, have a new one by Friday, start working on Monday so you have a long weekend, Ron started his new job in heaven on Monday September 9th.
Ron is survived by his wife, Joyce Lee Debler; children, Debra Lynn (Armando Louis ) Zamacona and Ronald Dean (Roxane Lisa) Debler; grandchildren, Courtland Louis Zamacona, Celina Acuna, Brandon Lucas Zamacona, Shannon Rene Gibbs, Rihana Louise Debler, Rayisa Marquis Debler, Anthony John Castaldo, and Lorraine Castaldo; great-granddaughter, Braelynn Rene Zamacona; and nieces Kathy Aliger (Carl), Paula Ebersole (Jeff), and Nephew James Laible to name a few, siblings Phil, Richard, Linda and caregiver Donna Hopkins
He is preceded in death by his parents Robert & Grace and brothers Robert & James Leroy.
Ron, Uncle Ronnie, dad, grandpa, great grandpa will be deeply missed by his family and friends.