Ronald Louis Lopez

Ronald Louis Lopez was born to Raymond and Dolly Lopez in Morenci, Az on June 21st, 1951 and passed away at Tucson Medical Center on December 6th, 2024. He grew up in Solomon, Arizona, in a wonderful neighborhood with many childhood friends swimming in canals, playing in cotton trailers, hunting, hosting late night Monopoly games, surf boarding, and playing football and basketball games.

He attended Solomonville Elementary School and graduated at the top of his class. He attended Safford High School and had many fun-loving friends. He lettered in baseball and graduated at the top of his class. He was recruited by then-Senator Dennis Deconcini and was given an appointment to attend the United States Naval Academy, which he declined in favor of an academic scholarship to attend the University of Arizona. He graduated from the U. of A. again at the top of his class, with a double major in Psychology and Aerospace Engineering. 

He attended law school at Washington University in St. Louis, MO for 2 years, then went to work at McDonald Douglas Aerospace for 15 years while completing a master’s degree in Computer Science. He became an international consultant with Oracle Software for the last part of his career as a database administrator and system engineer.

Ron loved to dance, cook, read, hike, and teach. He was involved in his church, Calvary Chapel East in Tucson, working in the singles ministry and teaching financial management. Ron always had an interest in space travel and star gazing, shared by his daughter Laura, who always enjoyed accompanying him stargazing on trips to Solomon and remains similarly fascinated by space travel. His desire was to have a space burial, so his cremains will be sent aloft 100,000 miles above the earth, and then released.

He is survived by his daughter, Laura Lopez, his brother, Arnold Lopez, and his sister Debbie Lopez.