Mr. Ronald Andre Polk

was born on October 15, 1954 in Indianapolis, IN. He attended Indianapolis Public School # 41. He graduated from Brebeuf Preparatory High School in 1973 as an academic honors athlete in basketball. He attended Michigan State University and Earlham College. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Indiana University.

Ron worked briefly in cancer research at the Biochemistry Department at Purdue University. He also worked briefly for the City of Indianapolis in Air Pollution Compliance. In 1989, he began work keeping Fort Benjamin Harrison in compliance with environmental laws for water, ground and air. When the Fort closed in 1996, Ron began work at the Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS), trouble shooting in computer systems operations. He was hospitalized in late November 2005 for a brain aneurysm. He returned to work in March 2006 and continued to work there until his death.

Ron attended Holy Angels Catholic Church. Although not a regular church-goer, he loved God and was a spiritual, praying man.

Ron will be most remembered for his love and dedication to his family and friends and for how he thoroughly gave of himself. He was a wonderful cook; he was particularly known for his barbeque and for his bean soup. Ron loved to garden, and he enjoyed sharing his love of jazz and R&B music.

Ron had many friends and was deeply loved. He leaves a profound void in the lives of his family members, who pray for the "peace of Christ that passes all understanding."

He is survived by wife Carmen; daughters, Vanessa and Patricia; mother, Mary Polk; brother, John (Rita) Polk, Jr.; half-sisters, Carol Ollison and Gwendolyn Payne; and a host of extended relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, John W Polk, Sr.; and daughter, Sonia Polk.