Obituary of Ronald Edward Snedic
Ronald (Ron) E. Snedic, 76, of North Richland Hills, Texas, passed away on June 3, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. He will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, friend, and colleague to all who knew and loved him. Ron is survived by his wife, Donna; sons Ron (Heather), Paul (Diane), John (Amanda), and Brian (Valerie); grandchildren Jake, Hunter, Nate, Austin, and Isabelle; and sister Irene (Edward).
Ron was born in Joliet, Illinois to Edward F. and Irene J. Snedic on September 22, 1942. He lived a life rich in experience and full of adventure. Throughout his 45 years at IBM, he transitioned from a technician identifying hardware and software solutions across the country to Director of Development and Solutions impacting businesses across the globe.
Beyond his dedication to work, Ron gave back to the community by volunteering as an Auxiliary Policeman and a Boy Scout Leader. He also enjoyed the freedoms of camping, cruising, and road tripping. Over the years he managed to conquer the peaks of the Rockies, explore the Orient and sail the seas in style. Ron managed to visit 48 different states, and dozens of countries across 5 continents. He fueled his passion for racing by taking the family to Formula 1, NASCAR, and the Indianapolis 500 races. Ron always ensured the full experience with professional grade headsets for all, which allowed him to commentate the races while listening in on team radio chat. Occasionally he tried his hand at racing with his 1980 Corvette on the racetracks at Texas Motor Speedway and the Route 66 drag strip.
Having flown on 33 different airlines, Ron's passion for aircraft was obvious. He could recall every type of plane he had been on and explain the differences of each. The joy he gained from attending airshows was infectious as he described the historical significance of each aircraft. Somehow he managed to turn any excursion into a learning opportunity. He always seemed to know some quirky detail about a building in Paris, some marketplace in Rome, or a ranch in Texas.
Ron loved setting up entertainment for everyone. He would rapidly take charge, choose a destination and plan an adventure down to the minute. On family road trips everything was orchestrated. He even assigned tasks and set a timer when getting food and fuel, referring to them as "pit stops". Each pit stop had the goal of beating the previous time. In his retirement, Ron charged ahead with many more road trips in his RV and cruises in the Caribbean. On these trips a sillier side of Ron was revealed by tapping into his inner kid. For Ron, life in general was a game, especially with the family, and one that wasn't to be taken too seriously. His sense of humor was unmatched. For every comment he would inevitably have a quip or a funny story.
Ron had a confidence that put everyone at ease. Whenever crisis struck, he always managed to keep calm. He would even find a way to get people laughing. He knew just what to do for every problem. He loved the idea of trying to fix everything. If Ron couldn't fix it, then it was truly broken. At a moment's notice, he would drop everything to help, especially if it meant he got to play with the grandkids. His generous and loving nature always brought calm to any situation.
Ron was an incredible father and grandfather who put his children and grandchildren first. He seized all opportunity to deliver his signature chocolate waffles, cheer on soccer and baseball games, or challenge you in a game like Monopoly. A big kid himself, Ron could often be found on the ground playing with cars, building with Legos, or inevitably sneaking packs of M&Ms to the grandkids. There wasn't a situation that his sense of humor didn't come out where he would get you laughing so hard you started crying. His sense of humor and jokes are something that would always bring a smile to anyone's face. He could make anyone laugh in any scenario.
Ron was the most knowledgeable, funny, caring, and adventurous person. He was an incredible role model for his family and has left a lasting mark on the world. Though he is gone from this world, he will live on in our hearts and our memories. Rest in peace Ron, Dad, Grandpa.
The visitation will be held from 5-8:00 PM on Friday June 7, 2019 at Forest Ridge Funeral Home, 8525 Mid Cities, North Richland Hills, TX 76182.
Funeral service will be held at Good Shepherd Catholic Community, 1000 Tinker Road, Colleyville, TX 76034 on Saturday June 8, 2019 at 10:00 AM with Father Ronald Mohnickey officiating.
