Ronald David Karchmer

His last week on Earth was a banner week: He cleaned and cleared his desk; he engaged in stirring negotiations with the managers at his residence; he read C.J. Box novels and dreamed of a move to Wyoming; he saw friends and family, ate some nice meals, played cards. On his last night, he had a cardiac event that took him out of the picture, going out fast as he’d always hoped he would.

No man was a stranger to Ronnie; they were all friends just waiting to be made. He kept in touch with an extensive group of family and friends from early childhood through all stages of life. He regularly met with and chatted on the phone with friends from Menger Elementary, Hamlin Jr. High, Ray High School, SMU, UT and UT Law. He took pride in maintaining his connections, organizing annual high school reunions and even including folks from other graduation classes.

Ronnie loved to travel and was a huge fan of the U.S. road trip. Sometimes with friends or family, sometimes on his own, he’d get in a car and drive. He’d stop in small towns, pull out a phone book and call parents of former college classmates and fraternity brothers. He would travel for miles to get a good meal that he might have seen on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, but he was also a fan of a good steak, spicy Thai food, salty BBQ or a Whataburger with extra onions, and always in hot pursuit of the world’s best margarita.

Ronnie knew a joke or a one-liner for every occasion and pulled them out of his excellent memory so fast that you couldn’t tell his story was a joke before the punch line came. One of his favorites before he stopped driving was “I hope I go quickly in my sleep like my grandfather, and not like the poor schmuck screaming in the passenger seat.” Kudos, Ron, you did it.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, Monette and Bernie Karchmer, and his brother, Mike. He is survived by his daughter, Danna Halff and son-in-law Jim; his son, David and daughter-in-law Hali; his brother, Gordon; his sister-in-law, Leda; his grandchildren, Joshua Halff (and fiancé Autumn Sparks), Daniel Halff, Ari Karchmer, and Waverley Karchmer; many beloved nieces and nephews; dozens of cousins; and many, many friends whom he considered family.

A celebration of life will take place Sunday, December 14th from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at El Catrin Restaurant, located at 21 Brees Blvd. San Antonio, Texas 78209. Join us for a margarita and judge for yourself if Ronnie would have approved.

Please bring your favorite Ronnie joke or treasured memory to send him off.