Ronald Thomas Gormanous

Haughton, LA - Ronald “Ron” “Ronnie” Thomas Gormanous, 65, passed away on October 27, 2011, with his wife and daughters by his side after a courageous three year battle with cancer. Ron was born on September 4, 1946, in Oakdale, Louisiana, to Mitchell and Edith Gormanous.

Ron served as a Sergeant in the United States Air Force as a radar operator on an EC-121-D, early warning aircraft plane. He completed three tours during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1968 and participated in over 100 combat missions.

Ron was a graduate of Louisiana Tech University where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degree. He began his career as a teacher and soccer coach at First Baptist Church School of Shreveport, Louisiana in 1973. He went on to coach football, basketball, baseball, and track as he continued his career at Haughton High School (HHS). While at HHS, he was a teacher, coach, and guidance counselor. He later served as both assistant principal and principal at Princeton Junior High. He retired in 2004 after completing the final seventeen years of his thirty – one year career in education as principal at Princeton and then Haughton Middle School. Ron’s leadership style was strong yet compassionate and created a positive environment of success. His legacy of touching lives and promoting education will live on forever.

Ron was preceded in death by his father, Mitchell Gormanous and a brother, Donald Lee “D.L.” Gormanous. Left to cherish the precious memories of Ron is his wife of forty years, Martha Jane Coleman Gormanous; three daughters, Angela Veatch and husband Clifton of Greenwood, Arkansas, Kimberly Stafford and husband John of Bossier City, Louisiana, and Heather Gormanous of Sorrento, Louisiana; four grandchildren, Peyton Stafford, Abigail Veatch, Coleman Stafford, and Thomas Veatch; mother, Edith Gormanous Hatch of Oakdale, Louisiana; brother, Phillip Gormanous of West Lake, Louisiana; and numerous nieces and nephews.

We were blessed to have him as a loving husband, father and pawpaw.

Visitation for friends and family will be held on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, at Hill Crest Funeral Home Chapel from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, November 2, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana with the Rev. David Dietzel officiating. Interment will follow at Hill Crest Memorial Park in Haughton, Louisiana.

Honoring Ron as pallbearers will be Don Black, Bill Gormanous, Scott Gormanous, Mike Mowad, Charles Rosalee, John Stafford, Darryl Strother, and Clifton Veatch. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers are Jim Coleman, Phillip Gormanous, Roger Grubbs, Robert Marlow, Ronnie Saxon, Tom Taylor, Jack Zator, and Wayne Veatch.

Memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church of Bossier City, 201 John Wesley Boulevard, Bossier City, Louisiana, 71112.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family by visiting www.hillcrestmemorialfh.com