Ronald Lewis Clawson

Ronald Lewis Clawson, age 81, of Henderson, died July 10th, 2025, at Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas. Ronald was born December 17, 1943, in Compton, CA to Raymond and Kathleen (Albea) Clawson and he had the blessing of an amazing stepfather, Henry Eric Goldberg, who helped teach him how to be an outstanding man, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, and mentor to many.

Ron attended the Georgia Military Academy and was a graduate of Savanah High School. Ron then served in the US Air Force as a medic stationed at Nellis AFB. While stationed at Nellis, he met the one love of his life on a blind date, Nancy Ann Rapone, to whom he was married for 61 years.

After leaving the Air Force, Ron worked as the Clark County Deputy County Coroner before embarking on a 10-year career at Sunrise hospital. First as head of inhalation therapy and pulmonary function departments, then he was asked to join Dr. Phillip Akre to develop the Cardiac Catheterization lab, which he headed for several years. While working at Sunrise, Ron also became a distributor for SpaceLabs, selling state-of-the-art operating room equipment to hospitals across the country. In the early 1980’s, Ron embarked on a new career, going into the oil exploration business with his brother Raymond to locate oil in the US, helping mitigate the OPEC oil crisis and the availability of foreign oil. Then Ron pivoted again and opened a Glass company in the late 1980’s, helping develop this fabulous city he called home for over 62 years. As a Glazing Contractor for 25 years, Ron helped develop national standards for the glazing industry, wrote the national training and procedures manual for Union certified glaziers, and served on the Board of the National Glass Association for a decade in various positions. Because of his vast knowledge of the standards for construction and glass installation, Ron also served as an expert witness for glazing defect lawsuits nationwide as a private consultant until he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012.

Ron was very involved in this community which he loved. He offered countless hours of service to his church, University United Methodist, as Chairman of the Board and various other leadership positions, as well as serving on the Desert Southwest Conference for United Methodists for over a decade. He was also very active with several men’s organizations, like Rotary Club and The Elks Lodge, where he was present and motivational: always lending a helping hand to those around him. Ron was a bold and vibrant man with a hilarious sense of humor. He was always the life of the party, making people laugh even in his last days.

Ron will be deeply missed by his wife of 61.5 years, Nancy; by his brother Raymond Clawson, Jr.; his surviving daughters, Janeen and her husband Leonard Davila, and Lisabeth and her husband Darren Couturier; his surviving grandchildren, Christopher Davila, Bryan Davila, Gabrielle Clawson, Jamie Couturier, Blake Mikel Clawson, and Katelyn Couturier; and his eleven great-grandchildren.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Kathleen and Henry Goldberg, and Raymond Clawson, Sr.; his brothers Russell Clawson and William Purcell; his sister Janis Sedgley; his only son, Blake Eric Clawson; granddaughter Sarah Lee-Ann Clawson, and grandson Tyler White.

A celebration of Ron’s life will be held on Thursday, July 31st at 11am, at University United Methodist Church, 4412 S. Maryland Parkway across from UNLV, with fellowship following the celebration. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association or University United Methodist Church in Ron’s name.