Ronald Frederick Soutar

Although he was born in Nedrow, New York (1941), Ron would tell you his home was in New Mexico. It was his sun-drenched land, and the Pecos Wilderness was, in his own words, “his mountains.” He made them his own with frequent hikes and camping trips beneath New Mexico’s turquoise skies.

It was not his mountains, though, for which he most loved New Mexico. In Albuquerque, he met the love of his life, his wife of 61 years, Babs. His love for her and the family they made together brought him happiness and joy in life, and, in the end, gave him the courage to pass into God’s Kingdom.

In their family home, Ron loved his garage workshop. It was in this saw-dusted sanctuary that he lovingly crafted rocking horses, angels, and nutcrackers out of wood. His favorite project was a beautiful cradle – one that lulled each of his eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren to sleep.

He served his country for 39 years as an engineer with Sandia National Laboratories, a career in which he took great pride. Work took him on frequent adventures to Massachusetts and Florida, and even to Hawaii and Johnston Island for missile testing.

As much as he loved his job, he didn’t like being away from his family. He was blessed with early retirement and the opportunity to travel. New adventures took Ron and Babs to nearly all 50 states, to numerous countries across four continents, and even into the skies in a hot air balloon.

His adventures now lead him to Heaven. But somewhere in ‘his mountains,’ in the Pecos Wilderness, there is a flaming patch of pink in the New Mexico sunrise where his memory will always dwell.

Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Madalynn, sister Ellen, and brother-in-law Jim.

He is survived by his wife Babs, their children: Roger (wife Kelly), Susan (husband Norman), Mike (wife Sheri), Lori (husband Greg), Karen (husband Bill), their grandchildren: Kimberly (husband Simon), Kevin (wife Anne), Michael (fiancée Oksana), Nick (wife Delaynie), Tracy, Kurtis, Stephanie, Zachary (wife Melody), great-grandchildren: Arya and Evelyn, and sister-in-law Donna.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. Donate Today! - New Mexico Wildlife Federation - New Mexico Wildlife Federation (nmwildlife.org)

Proverbs 3:5-6