“Come to me, all who are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

Ronald Glen Staley passed into Heaven’s Gates on October 30, 2021.Ron was born on July 21, 1937, in Reading, PA, the son of Glen B. Staley and Mirian Unger Staley. His family was active in the Church of the Nazarene there.  In the 60’s Ron joined the United Methodist Church in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and he continued serving in many capacities here at Seabrook UMC.He graduated from Reading High School in 1955, and was the outstanding baseball player. He earned a baseball scholarship to Bucknell University and was team captain his senior year.  He was offered a tryout for the Chicago White Sox, but he had already accepted a job with Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in West Palm Beach, FL and worked there 1959 – 1961.  (Back then professional ballplayers did not make much money!)  He moved on to AVCO as a test engineer and then to Lockheed Missiles and Space Corporation at Cape Kennedy, FL.

During that time he worked on payload integration and flight-tested re-entry vehicles (nose cones) on the Atlas, Titan and Minuteman ICBM for the nuclear weapons program.  He obtained a high security clearance and was not permitted to talk about it.  He later shared how this program weighed heavily on his mind because he knew what the missiles would do if they were ever used.

He continued with Lockheed, moving the family to Seabrook in 1974 and was involved in the shuttle and space station programs at JSC.   Meanwhile he completed his MBA at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.  He was recognized for his professionalism, dedication and outstanding support for flight safety and mission success, and was awarded the Silver Snoopy Award in 1989.He also enjoyed playing competitive fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball.  His team qualified for regional and national tournaments.  Ron was a serious sports fan, especially baseball and tennis.  He spent many years playing and coaching his children in their efforts.Ron had an outgoing personality, a big smile, and infectious laugh.  He is especially remembered for his love of donuts and BlueBell Ice Cream.  In recent months he enjoyed sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch, listening to country music on the radio.

Ron is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marjorie Beale Staley; daughter, Lynn Staley Guillo (Rick); son, James Ronald Staley (Mary); and 5 grandchildren – Katelyn, Ryan, and Nathan Guillo and Finn and Miles Staley.  He is also survived by his sister, Gwen Staley Gallmoyer (Gary) of Leesport, PA.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, any memorial donations be sent to Seabrook United Methodist Church,  3300 Lakeside Drive, Seabrook, TX, 77586, to the Ron Staley Memorial Fund.  This will be used to support “The Gathering Place”,  a ministry for persons with dementia and their caregivers.

After the service, friends are invited to join the family at the Staley home, 4322 Willow Hill Drive, Seabrook, Tx 77586…. Clear Lake Forest Subdivision.

From his daughter, Lynn – “He is no longer limited by the dementia that was stealing his memories and his physical body that was slowly giving out.”

From his son, Jim – “As Patriarch of our family, he wore many hats:  Husband, Father, Grandfather, Mechanical/Aerospace Engineer, Bucknell University baseball player, baseball and tennis coach, auto-mechanic, handyman, Christian, and dearly loved human being.”