Ronnie McCown

Ronal (Ronnie) Dee McCown was born on May 11, 1934 in Seadrift, Texas, and passed from this life to be with his Lord and Savior on 28 July 2023. He was a strong Christian, husband, and father. Ronnie possessed a love for people that was contagious. He never met a stranger and never passed up an opportunity to show kindness and generosity to those in need.

Although Ronnie never graduated high school he excelled in his profession and became a senior project manager with Brown & Root Construction Company where he served for over 43 years, managing thousands of employees. Working with fellow “Brown and Rooters” Ronnie built refineries and petrochemical plants from the ground up in Texas, Louisiana and elsewhere, all of which remain in full production today. In the latter years of his career Ronnie worked on construction projects in California, Arizona, Venezuela, Mexico the US Virgin Islands and France. Ronnie was an expert in organizational management and extremely well respected in his profession.

Ronnie loved watching sports and especially football where he cheered for the Houston Oilers and in later years the Houston Texans. Ronnie also took up the sport of golf of which he enjoyed during his retirement years.

Ronnie served in the US Army from 1954-1956 and stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. Ronnie served as a crew member on a 90mm anti-aircraft gun in the 163d AAA Battalion at Wiesbaden Air Force Base. Ronnie was a stalwart patriot who loved his country and was especially proud to be a Texan. Ronnie came from a long line of hard workers on both the McCown (Father) and Cook (Mother) side of the family, a trait that he modeled for others throughout his life.

Ronnie married Peggy J. Threeton on September 27, 1958, after returning home from his service in the US Army. Ronnie noticed Peggy when she walked into the small-town drug store on main street, Seadrift, Texas, having traveled by bus from Houston to visit her Parents. Ronnie asked a friend to introduce them and after several years of dating Ronnie and Peggy were married; a marriage that lasted for 54 years, ending when Peggy passed away in May 2012. Peggy was born with heart problems and became one of Dr. Denton Cooley’s first open-heart surgery patients at the young age of 21. Struggling with serious health issues for most of her life, Peggy relied on the grace of God and served as a faithful witness to Him, modeling behavior that led Ronnie to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior; a standard that Ronnie continued to carry after Peggy’s death.

Ronnie grew up in Seadrift, Texas with his older brother Gene. Ronnie’s mother, Annie Pearl McCown, died a few days after giving birth to Ronnie and he and his brother were raised by their grandmother Flossie Cook and their Uncle Jim Cook.

Ronnie and Peggy’s son, Dee, was born in San Benito, Texas in 1964, and Ronnie considered fatherhood as one of his greatest blessings in life. He followed Dee’s military career while he served in the U.S. Army Rangers; and after he joined the FBI, with assignments in the domestic U.S. and overseas after the 9/11 attacks on the United States. The day that his granddaughter, LillyAnne, was born was one of Ronnie’s most cherished life events. Being a grandfather meant so much to him and he loved LillyAnne dearly.

Ronnie spent his last years at Crestview Retirement Community in Bryan, Texas where he developed many wonderful relationships with the local staff and fellow tenants. Ronnie was a well thought of and respected member of the Crestview Community.

Ronnie recently celebrated his 89th birthday, and is survived by son, Kerry Dee McCown; daughter in-law Susan McCown; granddaughter, LillyAnne McCown; in-laws Mildred and Art Reine; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and countless friends who loved him dearly. Ronnie was preceded in death by his wife Peggy McCown, mother and father, Odus, and Annie Pearl (Cook) McCown, brother Odus Gene McCown and granddaughter Rachel Elizabeth McCown.

We are so grateful for the time we had with Ronnie on this earth. We love and miss him and find precious comfort in knowing that we will be reunited with him in heaven.

Please send donations to the Free Burma Rangers at https://www.freeburmarangers.org/ in lieu of flowers.