E. RONALD ERICKSON

A resident of Bellevue since 1964, E. Ronald Erickson passed on August 16, 2009 from Parkinson’s disease at the age of 78. He was born to Ervin Ronald Erickson and Viola Sander on October 29, 1930 in Los Angeles, CA. Ron graduated from John Marshall High School in 1948, and then from Brigham Young University in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in Business. He married Dorothy Elaine McKendrick on September 20, 1951 in the St. George Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had been called to serve in the Spanish-American Texas mission for his church at the same time as being drafted into the military and received an exemption from the latter to attend ROTC in college. After graduation he fulfilled his military duty by joining the Navy during the Korean War conflict and served on the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea.In 1954, Ronald went to work for Pay‘n Save Corporation founded by M. Lamont Bean as a clerk in drug sales. He became General Manager of the Ernst Hardware division in the 1960s, and retired as President/Chief Operating Officer of the corporation in 1986. Ronald was a devoted sports enthusiast. He played high school baseball, basketball and was an excellent golfer. He was an avid supporter of the University of Washington football team, and the Seattle Mariners, Sonics and Seahawks. When it came to the sports and activities of his children and grandchildren, one would never find a more engaged, joyful fan.His true passion was his family, community and church. He served as Bishop of the Bellevue First Ward, Bellevue Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than six years. He was a member of Seattle Rotary, served on the board of directors of the Washington Athletic Club, was a member of the Advisory Board of the BYU Marriott School of Business, and was a President of Overlake Golf & Country Club. He also was a volunteer worker at the Seattle Temple. Ron loved people; he was a man of considerable wisdom, and completely without guile. He is survived by siblings Shirley Calder and Karen Wells, children Tricia Ryan (Richard), Gordon Erickson (Cheryl), Catherine Cooney (Kim), Steven Erickson, and Kristine Cox Carlson (Kit), 20 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. His beloved wife of 56 years, Dorothy, unexpectedly preceded him in death in 2008. His family and friends rejoice in their reunion — and look forward to their own — through the birth, mission, sacrifice, and resurrection of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and the love of their Heavenly Father.A memorial service was held Thursday, August 19, at the Bellevue South Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.