Ronald G. Harris, 77, of Winslow left us on June 17, 2018. Viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. this Friday, June 22, at Greer’s Mortuary, located at 316 W. Second St., in Winslow. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 23, at the First Baptist Church of Winslow, located at 411 Warren Ave. Fred Harris, Ron’s pastor and youngest son, and Matt Gaston, friend and former student, will be officiating. Burial will follow at the Desert View Cemetery. Ron was born in Glendale, Calif., on Dec. 5, 1940. Ron served four years in the Navy as an airplane radio operator. Upon being honorably discharged, he married Ruby Johnston, who became his wife of 54 years, in Kingman on Feb. 16, 1964. After graduating from Grand Canyon College (now University), he moved his family of three to Winslow to begin his career teaching junior English, and speech and drama at Winslow High School. After teaching for 11 years, he became a counselor at the high school and finally a district counselor before retiring. Retirement for Ron, of course, involved directing a charter school, Northern Arizona Academy. At First Baptist Church, he was a Sunday school teacher, deacon, widows’ caregiver and started the radio ministry (as well as running it for nearly 40 years). He also created the WHS Because We Care celebration, to provide graduates an alternative to the traditional drinking parties. What began with several students and their friends in the FBC youth group is now a large, well-known program sponsored by various merchants all over town. Ron is preceded in death by his mother, Lucille; baby brother, Danny; his father, Thomas Harris; and sister, Bonnie Anderson. He is survived by his wife, Ruby; children, Tedd Harris, Ike (Alice) Harris, Teresa (Brian) Schwengler and Fred (Jen) Harris; 13 grandchildren and families; his older brother, Tom; sister-in-law, Jean; and brothers and sisters-in-law Tom and Joyce Myers, Jim and Diane Johnston, their children and Margaret Johnston. Greer’s Funeral Home of Winslow handled the arrangements.
