Ronald Earl Cumbie
Ronald Earl Cumbie, 83, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed peacefully in his home on June 21, 2025.
Ron was born in Athens, Texas to Jeana Merle Stogner and Edgar McTerry Cumbie. The oldest of three siblings, Ron was a paperboy in his youth and an avid reader. After high school, he obtained a degree in education from Stephen F. Austin University and taught school in underprivileged communities in El Paso. Soon he began what would become his career, as an educator and administrator in the Job Corps at Camp Luna, near Las Vegas, N.M. It was in Las Vegas where he met and married the love of his life, Marcelina Montoya Cumbie, and they became a family with the birth of a daughter, Waverly Jeana, and a son, Byron McTerry.
Ron eventually transferred to locations in Arizona and Virginia before settling in 1974 at a Job Corps Center located in the Daniel Boone National Forest at Pine Knot, Ky. Here he continued his work; over the course of his life helping hundreds of disadvantaged youths to obtain a GED certificate and learn valuable trade skills.
Ron also invested himself deeply into his community, becoming a PTA president, volunteer church bus driver, president of the Lions Club, newspaper columnist, and Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge in Stearns.
After the birth of their first grandchild, Ron and Margie relocated to Chattanooga, where they spent their twilight years being grandparents and Ron fed his lifelong curiosity about historic people and places.
Ron was known by many for his intellect, his considerate nature, for being a good neighbor and citizen. He was fond of bright shirts with classic cars printed on them, early rock and roll music, and folk art. He maintained several lifelong friendships through hand-written letters, and would often include thoughtful newspaper clippings that had reminded him of the recipient.
Ron kept a daily journal for over 50 years, noting world events, the weather, and especially his pride in the accomplishments of his friends and family. He was particularly patient with children and kind to animals, passing his love of nature and conservation on to anyone he could.
Ron was preceded in death by his beloved wife Margie, his sister Vanda and her husband Pablo, and his brother-in-law Eugenio.
He is survived by his daughter, Jeana (Oistein), son, Byron, granddaughters, Haley, Kelsey, and Willow, sister Terry, sister-in-law, Sophia, brothers-in-law, Toby, David, and Clyde, beloved nieces and nephews and extended friends and family.
Ron’s family has asked that in lieu of flowers that anyone wishing to serve Ron’s memory would simply do a kind act for a neighbor or something toward the preservation of nature.
Arrangements entrusted to Cremation Center of Chattanooga 1345 Hickory Valley Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421, 423 362-5999.