Former OSU Pike President and U.S. Airforce Veteran Passes Away at Age 75

Oct 15, 1939 - Oct 19, 2014 OKLAHOMA CITY Ronald Laird Stewart, 75, of Oklahoma City, died October 19, 2014, in his home, embraced by his family. Ronald, or Ron, as he was known, was born on October 15, 1939, in Cushing, OK. As the son of war correspondent and journalist, Roy P. Stewart, and wife, June Winifred (Mayberry) Stewart, Ron moved frequently with his family across the U.S. until settling in Oklahoma City in 1953. Ron married Saundra Jean Best in 1963 and had daughters, Dominique in 1970 and Nicole in 1975. Ron was a devoted father, participating as co-Camp Fire leader and softball coach for many years. He lovingly served as a surrogate father-figure for many of the girls who befriended his daughters. Ron made it a point to acquaint himself with people - from those whom he casually worked alongside to the counter help at his local 7-11 or Dunkin' Donuts. He never forgot a name and made everyone aware that he was truly interested in the humblest detail of their lives. Education, physical fitness, and maintaining lifelong relationships, some since grade school, were of utmost importance to him. Ron was also an accomplished athlete with a tennis career that spanned more than 50 years. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Oklahoma State University and was an avid OSU Cowboys fan. In addition, Ron was President of Pi Kappa Alpha social fraternity at OSU. Ron served his country as a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve during the "Berlin Crisis" of 1961. In 2009, Ron sang in the community choir, Spiritful Voices, at Carnegie Hall, of which he was rightfully proud. Ron's 35-year public service career included staffing committees of the Oklahoma Legislature; serving as a Division Director for the Office of Community Affairs and Planning; as a Division Director for two divisions of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission; as an Assistant Director of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission; as Division Director of Operations with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce; and as a human resources seminar facilitator for the Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management. He enjoyed an academic career as an adjunct instructor of Political Science at University of Central Oklahoma and Rose State College, from which he received an "Excellence in Teaching Award" in 2010. Deeply loved and survived by his wife, Saundra Jean Stewart; daughter, Dominique Kaye Shadid and husband Chris; daughter, Nicole Diane Stewart; brother, Roger Malcolm Stewart and wife Daphne; sister, Judith Kaye (Stewart) Shank; and grandchildren, Lena Nicole Shadid and Milo Gregory Shadid. Join family and friends for a celebration of Ron's life at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, 73105, 1-3 p.m. on Monday, November 3, 2014. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org/donate and designate "lung cancer" in the drop-down menu under "Gift Type." To read or www.cancer.org/donate submit tributes for Ron, please visit www.mem.com and enter "Ronald L. Stewart." - 


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