Ronald K Barnard

Ronald (Ron) Barnard, 78, passed away on July 8, 2022, in Corpus Christi, TX.

Ron was born on January 24, 1944 in San Angelo, TX, to Dave and Jane Barnard.
Ron grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1962, and went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1966. He has been a resident of Corpus Christi, Texas since 1995.

Over the years, Ron worked for several petrochemical companies as a process and instrumentation engineer, area supervisor, and feedstocks analyst, but he found his true calling as Manager of Government Affairs for a petrochemical plant in Morris, IL. While working in Morris, he met fellow engineer and future wife, Catherine (Cathy).

Ron and Cathy were married on August 26, 1988 in Las Vegas, NV. Together they formed a partnership in work, life, love and their hobby of auto racing, where Cathy drove a Formual Vee and Ron was, as he used to describe, the "crew chief of one". They also shared a love of all things Jimmy Buffett, including his music and the "island life". Ron loved to travel, and enjoyed good food, fine wine, single malt scotch, margaritas, and gin on the rocks. Ron's favorite travel destinations included auto racetracks throughout the country, cruises in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, and the cities of Honolulu, Miami, Key West, Orlando, New Orleans, Denver, Chicago, and Las Vegas.

After retiring as crew chief of one, Ron enjoyed working grid and timing for Sports Car Club of America events and spectating at NASCAR and Indy car races.

Ron worked with the City of Corpus Christi as the Clean Cities Coordinator and Air Quality Coordinator from 1996 until he retired. Ron's primary responsibilities were to establish clean fuel programs within the City and to secure state funding and manage the various programs and grants awarded to local universities to maintain the air quality attainment status of Corpus Christi. Through Ron's initial efforts, which are carried on today by the city and local industrial community, the area has remained one of the only major cities in the country to maintain clean air status.

Ron is survived by his spouse, Catherine Barnard, two daughters, Heidi Wagner and Holly Rolando, and a grandson, Ein Estes.

Ronald is preceded in death by Jane Barnard - mother, and Dave Barnard - father.

No service is planned. Please say a personal prayer for Ron and his family.

Burial will be completed at sea from a cruise ship in the Caribbean.

Memorial donations can be made in Ronald's name to the Texas Liver Foundation, 2429 Bissonnet St, #30, Houston, TX 77005, texasliverfoundation.org.

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