Ronald Gene Ernest of Denton, Texas passed away September 10, 2026 at age 87. Ron is survived by his wife of 65 years, Patricia Ernest, children Barry Ernest and his wife Tamara, Carrie Niezgoda and her husband Jim; grandchildren Blake Ernest and wife Dinh, Payton Ernest and fiancé Sydney, Eden Thompson and husband Will, and Owen French, and his great grandson Brewer Lee Thompson. He is also survived by his sister Joyce Kendrick and her husband Gilbert.

Ron was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, March 5, 1939, and raised in Midwest City, Oklahoma. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1961 and joined the United States Air Force in 1962 where he served as a C-130 pilot for 7 years. After completing his military service, he flew as a commercial airline pilot with Continental Airlines, Braniff, and ended his aviation career with American Airlines in 2004.

Ron and Pat have been members of First Baptist Church Denton for over 50 years where Ron served as a deacon and where they raised their children. Ron enjoyed coaching Little League football and basketball as his children were growing up. He was a fixture at high school sporting events of all kinds watching his children at Denton High School and then his grandchildren at Guyer High School.