Ronda Flowers, 69, transitioned peacefully to the spiritual world on March 20, 2018 at a hospice facility in North Phoenix. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, declared cancer-free in 2002, yet had to restart her treatment in 2009. She remained ever active in the community during her treatment.
Ronda Flowers was born July 16, 1948, in Greensboro, NC, to Aiden and Jeanetta French. She graduated from Smith High School in 1966 and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1970. A yearning to see the world led Ronda to become a stewardess with Delta Air Lines, primarily flying out of Miami and Chicago. Two years later, a college friend living at a San Francisco Bay Area Unification Church community center invited Ronda for a visit. In the fall of 1972, Ronda found such inspiration from the people she there met, and insight into a life of faith in God, that she soon after resigned from the airline and moved to Northern California.
By 1974, Ronda’s parents had become concerned about the radical change in her life. They enlisted deprogrammer Ted Patrick to dissuade Ronda from her association with the Unification Church. On the pretext of taking Ronda out to dinner, Ronda was abducted. She was held against her will for several days in the Los Angeles area. She escaped from the motel, and after making her way to the airport she succeeded in returning to Northern California.
In May of 1979, Ronda was matched to William (Bill) Flowers by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, at a ceremony in New York City with over 4000 participants. Ronda and Bill were among the 2075 couples blessed in marriage by Reverend and Mrs. Moon at the July 1st, 1982, ceremony at Madison Square Garden, New York. Ronda, much to her relief, was able to reconcile with her family at that time. In 1987, Ronda gave birth to her beloved daughter, Charity. While living in New York in the 1980's and 1990's, Ronda worked at the HSA Headquarters building on 43rd Street.
In 1994, Ronda, Bill and Charity moved from New York to Arizona to be closer to Bill’s parents. Ronda worked for many years in the restaurant and hospitality fields until retiring in 2001, after her first diagnosis of cancer.
Ronda cherished the friendships that she formed. She always sought to exemplify the teachings of her faith, to live for the sake of others. Ronda’s victorious passing, like her life, was an inspiration to those close to her. Even when she knew she was about to transition, Ronda encouraged those around her. The sense is that Ronda is continuing to care for people—she has just begun a new journey which will enable her to reunite with family, like her father Aiden, and friends. She will surely find many new friends along the way. She is survived by her devoted husband Bill and daughter Charity in Arizona, her loving mother Jeanetta, sisters Nelda, Susan and Abbie, and several nieces and nephews in North Carolina.
Seonghwa memorial service will be on Saturday, March 31 at 2:00 pm at Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery, 401 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257. Those who wish to do so may send flowers to the mortuary prior to the Seonghwa service; cards and other correspondence may be sent to Ronda Flowers, 1144 West Laird Street, Tempe, AZ 85281.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18