Ronald W Eaves

Dr. Ronald Weldon Eaves (Ron), of Bakersfield passed away March 22, 2025, in Bakersfield. He moved to Bakersfield in 1997 to serve as interim dean of the School of Business and Public Administration at CSUB. This was supposed to be a temporary two-year assignment on loan from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) that lasted three years.

Ron was born in Beaumont, CA to Riley Weldon and Ruth Marshal Eaves. He is survived by the love of his life of almost 43 years, Betty L. Eaves. Their blended family consists of his children from a previous marriage Christopher Eaves (Corie), David Eaves (Bridgett), Erin Eaves (Keith) and his stepdaughters, who he felt were his daughters, Terri Ares (Henry), Sherene Sedgwick (Nick), and Rebecca Barboza (Matt). He is also survived by his older sister Shirley Bachar of Ontario, CA and by his 11 grandchildren and 6 great granddaughters with 2 more great grandbabies on the way.

Ron graduated from Chino High School (1955), and Mt. San Antonio College (1957). He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from San Jose State College in 1957 and 1962. He attended UCLA where he earned his PhD in 1976. He started teaching junior high school in San Jose, CA in 1960, moved to Fullerton College in 1963-65. In 1965 he went to work for Honeywell, Inc. as a systems analyst to learn computer programming and systems analysis and design. There he acquired his lifelong love of working with computers. In the fall of 1968, he joined the faculty at Cal Poly University, Pomona as an assistant professor where he taught and worked until 1997. He worked up through the academic ranks to ultimately serve as dean of the College of Business Administration. He served as dean of the college for 11 years.

In 1997 he moved to CSU Bakersfield on loan from Cal Poly and served as interim dean until July 2000.

Cal Poly University, Pomona had several foreign programs giving him an opportunity travel to many countries: Vietnam, Scotland, Singapore, Armenia, South Korea, China and Africa. In 1979 he took a leave from Cal Poly to teach in Hong Kong for 1.5 years. In 1996-97 he taught for Boston University’s Overseas Program in West Germany to U.S. military officers.

After retiring from university service in 2000, Ron enjoyed becoming active in the community. He spent 2002-2003 as a member of the Kern County Grand Jury chairing the health, education and social services committee. He volunteered to serve as an unpaid information technology consultant for the Golden Empire Gleaners and the Assistance League of Bakersfield. He helped guide the Assistance League in the maintenance, upgrading and evolution of all of their IT systems. Around 2004 Ron started as a volunteer driver for the Golden Empire Gleaners. In 2007 he became chairman of its board of directors. Serving from 2007-2019. In 2006 he started his service on the Bakersfield Fire Department's civil service board which continued until 2024.

A celebration of life is being planned for later this Spring. Private burial of his ashes will be held later in Norco, CA at the family cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Golden Empire Gleaners or the Assistance League of Bakersfield in remembrance of Ron.