Ronald Ernest Becker

Ronald Ernest Becker died at his residence in Baton Rouge on March 29, 2015, at the age of 86.  He was born on November 7, 1928, in Ames, Iowa.  He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Coleman Becker; his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Nancy Becker, of Birmingham; his brother, William Becker of Albuquerque; and nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by parents Elery Ronald and Helen Becker; and his sister, Trudy Sample of St. Louis.  He graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in geological engineering and earned a Master of Science in soil mechanics from Purdue University.  A veteran of the Korean conflict, he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Sacramento and Texas Instruments in Dallas.  In 1970, he moved to Baton Rouge to join the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program at LSU.  As associate executive director, he administered projects in coastal and marine research until his retirement in 2011.  He was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the American Fisheries Society for his work in fostering the development and support of marine resources and technology in Louisiana.  He loved duck hunting and fishing in the marshes of Louisiana, traveling in Ireland, Alaska, and the American West, and, for many years, ballroom dancing.   For 28 years, he was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, where he served as vestry member and usher.  At the time of his death, he was a member of Holy Cross Anglican Church.  He was a kind and gentle man, with a quirky sense of humor, who loved people and took great joy in encouraging young people in their careers.  Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 18, at St. John's United Methodist Church, followed by religious services at 11:00 a.m.   In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Holy Cross Anglican Church or the Louisiana Sea Grant Program at LSU.