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Obituary for Ronald Council
A Private Memorial Service for Ronald will occur at
Ivy Hill Cemetery and Crematory 1201 Easton Road Philadelphia, PA 19150.
The Obituary Life Story
Ronald Council, 79, peacefully passed away on September 29th surrounded by his family. He was born on October 18, 1941, in Media, Pennsylvania to Robert Q. Council and Effie B. Gossett Council. Ronald has one brother, Robert.
Ronald was educated at Sandy Bank Elementary, Rose Tree Elementary, Media Junior High School, and Media High School, where he excelled academically. He was fully engaged in and out of the classroom, participating in theatre, Student Council and serving as President of the Senior Class and President of the Varsity Club. Ron also participated in athletics as a member of the track, basketball and football teams.
Ron used his outstanding skills as a sprinter as a football player, where he is a standout. His football coach affectionately referred to him as the “Media Meteor.” He also earned the nickname “Rapid Ron.” During his senior year, Ron was co-captain and scored 18 touchdowns that year. He was the highest scoring back in Media High history, and the 9th best in Delco history. He led the Media Mustangs to their best season since 1945. He earned sport writers 1st Team All-County as a running back.
Ron attended Gettysburg College on a football scholarship, where he studied biology and was a member of Tri Beta Honor Society. He served as co-captain of the freshman team, where he averaged 5.1 yards per carry. As a sophomore, he was one of the starting running backs. A knee injury ended his promising football career.
Ron left Gettysburg to enlist as a Marines Corp. Aviation Cadet where he attended the United States Naval Flight School majoring in engineering/aerodynamics. He flew for the Marines for eight years which included a tour in Vietnam, where he flew over 600 missions into the field of heavy combat to rescue wounded servicemen. It was a miracle he survived the experience. He earned over 30 combat medals, which included:
Air Medal 30th Award – was for meritorious achievement against an armed enemy. The Air Medal was established as the aerial equivalent of the Bronze Star.
Presidential Unit Citation – awarded to units for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy.
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm – a decoration presented by the South Vietnam government to recognize valor and gallantry while serving in active combat against enemy forces.
He retired from the Marines at the rank of Captain and was selected to be a Presidential pilot, which entailed flying the Commander in Chief worldwide, an offer he declined. After his military service, Ron worked for Ross Perot in Dallas, then quickly rose through the corporate banking ranks, serving as Civic Affairs Officer and Employee Relations Representative for First National Bank of Boston, where he developed the first affirmative action program for subsidiaries. He next served as Vice President for National Westminister Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank and in less than ten years he was selected by Barclays Bank International to head their New York Administrative Division. In the latter part of his professional career, Ron was a sales and distribution consultant for various companies.
Ronald had two children, Ronald M. and Tambria from his married to Christine Curtis. At the time of his death, Ron was married to Janice, who he met In 1982. He embraced the role of father, grandfather and great-grandfather to Janice’s children, grandchildren and great grandchild, providing support and sage guidance.
Ronald was predeceased by his son Ronald M., and survived by his wife, Janice, children, Tambria N. Council, Shawn A. Tryce (Chris Taylor), Miles, H. Wilson, Stephanie A. Tryce (Geoffrey Arnold), grandchildren, Keith E. Jones, Brianna J. Jones, Gabrielle T. Arnold, Mekhi S. Wilson, and great-grandson Jack X. Jones, cousin Kacenia Archie, and dear high school friend, George Eves.
Ron enjoyed the simple pleasures, he . . .
was a star gazer, who would point out the constellations as he walked you to your car. was a devoted fan of Dallas Cowboys and fan of the fast pace of ice hockey. loved music, especially Bob Marley and Sade and the oldies. ate Cherrios with blueberries for breakfast. enjoyed sweets . . he was an ice cream aficionado, Hershey’s mini chocolate bar devourer and had an insatiable thirst for Boylan’s Black Cherry soda. loved watching the History Channel, particularly Ancient Aliens, Jeopardy, and WWE. was an amateur Egyptologist. was an avid listener of WURD radio. loved Black people . . . their innovative spirit, intellect, strength and resilience.
1941 Facts
World Population 2.35 billion Yearly income in the U.S. $2,200 New house costs $4,350 FDR is sworn in for his 3rd term March 19th: The Tuskegee Air Squadron, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen, is established by the U.S. Army. The squadron is led by Benjamin O. Davis Jr., who goes on to be the first four-star general in the U.S. Air Force. June 25th: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issues Executive Order 8802 desegregating war production plans. The order also establishes the Fair Employment Practices Committee, which works to ban “discriminatory employment practice by Federal agencies and all unions and companies engaged in war-related work.” July 1st: The first TV commercial airs November 12th: The National Negro Opera Company is established in Pittsburgh by opera singer Mary Lucinda Cardwell Dawson. The company provides “opportunities for countless other Black opera performers when few other options existed,” according to the website Black Past. Overarching: The Great Migration continues as Black Americans from the South relocate north and west to work in factories. Between 1910 and 1970, an estimated 6 million Black people migrate from southern states to northern and Midwestern cities to escape racism and Jim Crow laws of the South as well as poor economic conditions. Billie Holliday records “God Bless the Child” Cheerios were called “CherriOats” when they were invented in 1941.
