Ronald Ray Barlow was born August 3, 1942 in Fort Scott, Kansas to Raymond Likely Barlow and Ardeline Rae Barlow Ober. After the passing of his father, Ron and his sister Sandra were blessed with a stepfather Chester W. Ober, who helped raise them on his family farm in Fort Scott. He was a graduate of the Class of 1960. Ron first attended community college and then received his BS & BA degrees from Pittsburg State University (KS). He went on to receive his Masters in Management from National Louis and became a life member of Alpha Kappa Psi.
Ron was a Veteran of the United States Air Force where he acted as a Procurement Specialist for Ent Air Force Base, Peterson Field and NORAD. His experience in the Air Force most certainly impacted his employment with Kraft Foods where he worked for 30 years, retiring as a Packaging Purchasing Manager. After retiring from Kraft, Ron worked as an Administrator at North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago for 12 years.
North Shore Baptist Church played an important role in Ron’s life. It’s where he met his wife, Donna (Schreiber), whom he went on to marry there in 1972. North Shore is also where his two daughters Carrie and Lindsey were baptized and where Lindsey would go on to marry Tim Good and Carrie, Neil Lubomski.
Ron’s faith was at the center of his life. One need only look at the various roles Ron played at North Shore. In addition, he served as a board member of Family Matters Chicago and as a trustee for the Baptist Theological Union at University of Chicago Divinity School.
Ron enjoyed swimming at the YMCA, gardening (member of the Chicago Botanic Garden), and was a 40 year season ticket holder of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Ron was an avid reader and would often be found in his family room, rocking in his chair while reading, working on a sudoku puzzle, listening to music, or sitting next to Donna.
Ron was a generous man, but a man of few words. He showed his love through his generosity. He enjoyed lavishing Donna with gifts, buying innumerable family dinners and vacations, and opening his home to family and friends. He generously donated to many organizations. He would often give rides to and from North Shore to those needing them.
Ron peacefully passed away in his lovely home, on June 14th, 2019. Of all the things he will miss in this life, his family will be missed most. His wife Donna, his sister Sandra, his daughters Lindsey and Carrie and their husbands Tim and Neil, his nephew Richie, with whom he had a special bond, and his grandchildren Haley, Madilyn, Sophia, and Logan, all of whom he adored.
In lieu of flowers, Ron ask that donations be made in his honor to:
North Shore Baptist Church: 5244 N. Lakewood Ave., Chicago, IL. 60640
https://www.northshorebaptist.org
Family Matters Chicago: 7731 N. Marshfield Ave., Chicago, IL. 60626
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