Ron grew up in Peoria, Il and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Il. He worked as a research scientist at Abbot Laboratories and then taught high school science in Chicago. There, he met Amy, who was teaching math in the high school. They married in Chicago in 1997. Ron was then, and always, a dedicated teacher and learner. As a scientist, he always had a great reverence for the natural world.
Ron and Amy then left Chicago to attend graduate school, attending Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Ok, where he received a Masters and PhD in Zoology. During the years at Oklahoma State University, Ron taught and managed many student lab courses, and gained a great deal of knowledge in his field of zoology. In 2008, Ron and Amy accepted faculty positions in their respective fields at the University of Texas at El Paso, and, they and 2 year old Olive moved to El Paso. Later, Elias was born here in El Paso. While at UTEP, Ron taught courses in science methods to future elementary and middle school teachers. He was well-regarded and beloved by his students. Over time, Ron established an extensive Living Arthropod Lab at UTEP. His arthropod lab supported his research in arthropods, ecology, and science education. He was well known among other scientists in his field and did extensive work with them.
Ron is survived by his wife Amy, his daughter Olive, and son Elias. He is also survived by his sister Beth Nichols, brothers Jeffrey and Gregory Locke, step-mother Becky Wagler, and father Dick Wagler. He will be missed by all who knew him.
A visitation for Ronald will be held Monday, May 16, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Hillcrest Funeral Home-West, 5054 Doniphan Dr., El Paso, Texas 79932, followed by a memorial service at 5:00 PM.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestfhwest.com for the Wagler family.
