Ronald Edward Burbank
January 15, 1929 – August 15, 2014
“It’s all about the people” said Ron Burbank when he greeted a large gathering of colleagues, family and friends as he took over the helm of one of America’s largest trucking companies in 1973. And to Ron Burbank in life and in business, it was always about the people who made things happen, who made things count.
Born January 15, 1929 in Spokane, Washington, Ronald Edward Burbank was the middle child of Donald Edward and Elvira Gertrude Burbank. He left Spokane on an ROTC scholarship, earned a degree in business from the University of Southern California (Class of 1951), where he met his beautiful ‘bride’ of 62 years, Marilyn Jean Link. And in later years, Ron graduated from Harvard University’s Program in Executive Management in 1969.
Serving in the Korean War, Ron earned the rank of lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, on board the USS Stickell, a naval destroyer and was honorably discharged in 1955.
Following military service, Ron went on to work for a major business consulting firm in Southern California and in 1966, Ron moved the family to Lake Owego, Oregon, where he became the General Manager of Con Metco., a subsidiary of the trucking giant, Consolidated Freightways. In 1973, Ron joined the parent company in Menlo Park, California, where he rose through the ranks to become President and Chief Executive Officer of Consolidated Freightways Trucking. In 1981, Ron returned to his roots in the northwest and took on the Presidency of Freightliner which had been purchased by Daimler Benz.
He retired from Freightliner in 1985 and moved to the Sierra Foothills of California where he and Marilyn enjoyed their time in Lake Wildwood, The Cedars, and most recently at Eskaton Village in Grass Valley.
A business leader, active in the community and an extraordinarily devoted husband, father and grandfather, Ron put family first. He was the patriarchal ‘rock’ who gave selflessly to generations of cousins who needed help or, an attentive and listening ear. He cared deeply that family members stayed in touch despite geographic ‘obstacles’ and was the first to host relatives near and far at the homes he shared with Marilyn.
Most importantly, Ron took great pride in his sons, Scot Michael and Kevin Jon Burbank. He was lovingly called papa and grandpa by his three adoring grandchildren Jacqueline Rae, Danielle Alyse and Dillon Paul Burbank and loyally cheered on his USC Trojans with Jacqueline, who also graduated from her paternal grandparents’ alma mater.
Survived by his wife, Marilyn and his sons Scot (Arlene) of Kensington, Ca and Kevin (Janet) of Colfax, Ca his grandchildren and his sister Barbara Keene (Dave) of Spokane, WA, Ron will be lovingly remembered and revered by family members throughout California, Oregon and Washington. A celebration of this great man’s life will take place on Saturday, September 20th, for details, please call 510–710–7022.
The family prefers donations to the University of Southern California to fund the Ronald Edward Burbank Scholarship at the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at USC’s Marshall School of Business. Please send gifts to Dale Evans: c/o USC, 1150 South Olive Street #2000, Los Angeles, CA 90015.