Ronald John MacKinnon

RONALD JOHN MACKINNON was born on September 13, 1943. Ronald Senior served his country in the United States Navy. The family's first duty assignment was Portsmouth, Virginia. Ron's mother, Martha, gave birth to Ron at the Norfolk Naval Hospital while her husband was deployed. After the war, the family moved to San Diego. The family grew to include brothers, RobRoy and Thomas.

Ron attended neighborhood schools in Clairemont and he graduated from Clairemont High in 1961. As a young man, Ron developed an interest in electronics. This was largely due to the kindness o a neighbor living down the street. Little did that neighbor know, that his attention to Ron would open doors that would shape his future.

In 1962, with war brewing in Southeast Asia, Ron enlisted in the United States Air Force. Ron's test scores led him to an electronics school in Biloxi and then three years in Germany. During his assignment, Ron worked on the electronics of every type of plane being flown then by the Air Force.

Returning to a civilian life in San Diego meant looking for a job. Due to his extensive electronics knowledge, Ron was hired by Pacific Bell. School after school followed and Ron developed quite a technical background.

Ron met his first wife, Kaye, shortly after he returned to San Diego. They had one daughter, Mary Catherine, in 1967. In 1980, Ron would marry, Maria, and adopt as his own her three children: Samuel, Alexandria and Catherine. Ron and Maria moved to Poway and raised their children there. Ron became a Christian and the whole family attended the Baptist church. God was very important in their lives. He was proud of his children, and they would make him the grandfather of Richard, Victoria, Antonio and Levi.

In his 50's and looking forward to retirement, Ron was persuaded to sign up for a company sponsored college degree program by his co-worker, Cherie. Along the way, they would become college sweethearts. In May of 1999 they both graduated with a degree in business, from the University of Redlands. Ron was 55 and he boasted a 3.89 G.P.A. He was everyone's go to man when clear thinking was required.

After retirement, the couple moved to Temecula, Ca Ron soon found himself as an integral member of another large family. Cherie's four kids, Greg, Bryan, Allyson and Jocelyn soon became big fans of Ron. To Briana, Kaelin, Christian, Aidan, Connor, Dustin, Graysen and Kellen, all but one born on his watch, he was simply, Papa, electronic gadget fixer and the best duck Quacker ever.

Ronald Mackinnon was a much loved, thoughtful, kind, intelligent, Christian man. He was a self proclaimed geek, entirely devoted to converting every PC user into a MAC user. He loved everyone but Bill Gates. He was always on call when help was needed to fix computer problems for anyone. Ron left behind more then 250 Sci-Fi books. He loved them. He was a great friend. Just ask his best friend, James Brown, who can boast of more then forty years of friendship with Ron. As for his sweetheart, Cherie, their friendship was the very foundation of the love that they shared.

On July 20, 2013, while visiting Cherie in Florida, Ron's good heart failed him. He left this Earth forever and he went to his Heavenly home. Ron believed in God and he was always sure that he was going to Heaven. I am sure that we will see him there. Ron's was a life well lived. On your way to Heaven, Ron, I hope that you got to see all of those fantastic creations written about in your books and see how they paled in comparison to the splendor created by your Heavenly Father. Farewell Beloved.