Ronald Hart
November 3, 1932 - February 21, 2024
Ronald Edward Hart, age 91, of Keizer, Oregon, passed away peacefully on February 21, 2024.
Ronald (Ron) was born on November 3, 1932, in Bronx, New York, to parents Armond Hart and Viola Vogel. Ron, along with his parents and younger sister Joan, settled in Lake Worth, Florida, where he attended elementary and middle school and graduated from Lake Worth High School in 1950. During the period of 1950 to 1953, Ron served in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Machinist's Mate and completed as rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class.
Ron received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington in 1962, Master of Arts in Management from the University of Redlands in 1982, and Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in 1983.
Before moving to Keizer in 2003, he lived in Lancaster, California, from 1970 to 2003, and previously lived in Seattle, Washington, and Marietta, Georgia.
In 1962, Ron met his future wife, Sally, in Wichita, Kansas, and they married in 1963, recently celebrating their 61st anniversary.
From 1964 to 1971, Ron worked for Lockheed Corporation in Georgia and Southern California as a design engineer and flight test engineer on the C-5A, C-130 and L-1011 planes. From 1971 until his retirement in 1995, he worked at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California as a flight test engineer, project engineer and engineering manager on the B-1A, YC-141B and the B-2 Stealth Bomber.
Ron was a guest lecturer and authored and presented numerous papers on aerospace engineering topics. He was the past International President of Society of Flight Test Engineers and was also awarded recognition from the U.S. Department of the Air Force and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics for his service to the engineering field.
Ron was an avid photographer almost his entire life, often seen with a camera in his hand or around his neck, and was a member of the Lancaster Photography Association until relocating to Oregon. He also volunteered in the photo department at the Antelope Valley Fair, Marion County Fair and Oregon State Fair. During his retirement years he enjoyed volunteering, photography, watching college football, and spending time with his grandchildren, family and friends.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents Armond and Viola, and sister Joan. He is survived by his wife Sally; daughters Karen (Mark) of Salem, Oregon, and Sarah of Portland, Oregon; and grandchildren Danielle, Davin and Miranda.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in Ron's name to the Alzheimer's Association. A private service with immediate family will be held at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. Arrangements by Virgil T. Golden Funeral Services.