Ronald Ray Ankrom was born January 2, 1937 in Falls City, Nebraska to a 19-year-old Dad (Delbert Ankrom) and a 17-year-old Mom (Lorine Flickinger Ankrom), both of which came from a farming background. Dad and Mom moved us to Des Moines until I was 10 years old and then in 1948 we moved to Long Beach, California. That changed Ron’s life forever. Ron had a sister Marilyn Kay Ankrom and a brother Rickard Del Ankrom.

Ron progressed through Junior High School and High School and then entered Long Beach City College where he graduated with an A.A. degree in Engineering. Following that he attended Cal-Poly and then Cal-State University at Long Beach where he graduated with B.S. in Mathematics.

In January 1960, Ron joined the U.S. Air Force 6 month active duty and 6 year reserve duty program to keep from being drafted into the U.S. Army. He spent his 6 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Medic.

All through college, Ron played golf and was 1st man at Long Beach City College and 1st man at Cal-Poly on a golf scholarship. Ron changed colleges from Cal-Poly to Cal-State University at Long Beach because of his marriage to Linda Lee Bennett of Long Beach in June of 1959. Linda graduated with a teaching degree in June of 1959 and Ron graduated in June of 1961.

Ron started his career as a computer programmer at Autonetics in Anaheim, California. His entire career was in or around computer programming projects mostly aerospace oriented. He worked on the Apollo Project in the 60’s, other projects in the 70’s and 80’s and ended his career with 11 years of onboard software on the B2 Stealth Bomber for Northop Grumman Corporation after which he retired at the age of 62.

Ron and Linda had three beautiful children, Lisa Laurine Cortez of Vista California, Ronald Ray Ankrom Jr. of San Clemente, and Michaeal Bruce Ankrom of San Clemente, California. Linda was a great mother to her children and they are Ron and Linda’s greatest legacy left to this world.

Ron has 6 grandsons who are Brandon and Jake Cortez of Vista, Tyler and Trevor Ankrom of San Clemente, and Max and  Wyatt Ankrom of San Clemente. They are also an extension of the legacy Ron and Linda left on the earth.

Ron doesn’t want anyone to grieve for him. Ron had a great life far beyond what most people experience and God was with him throughout his life. Ron is going to eternity to make room for the next generation of God’s children.

After Linda passed away from Alzheimers in 2002, Ron and an old friend Margie Ann Ford, who had known each other since age 17, got together to share experiences, travel, and live life together. They laughed, lived life fully, and enjoyed each other’s company for the years during Ron’s retirement. They traveled extensively and were able to visit all seven continents on the earth. Ron was a very lucky guy to have lived life with two of the most wonderful, beautiful, full of life girls he ever met.

Remember the Golden Rule!

God be with you all and I’ll see you on the other side!

Ron Ankrom, Sr.