Ronald Allen Weissinger

Ronald Allen Weissinger, son of Betty J. and the late Robert C. (Bob) Weissinger of Abilene, Texas, made his last earthly journey on August 13, 2025, taking the lovely garden path to a heavenly forever. By now, he has explored every inch of the beauty beyond his dreams and has chosen a special place to take in the magnificence of God's world.

Ron was born June 12, 1952 in Corpus Christi, TX where, as a child, he first learned that the beach with sand and “moving” water was indeed a child's playground. He would stand at the water's edge and watch the rolling waves wash over his feet until they were buried under the sand. He was fascinated with bugs and how they crawled under the grass and struggled to navigate various foliage in our yard. He would use a stick to clear a path for them and become a bit agitated if the creatures did not follow his path.

In his younger years Ron was in Boy Scouts and later was active in Explorer Scouts where he enjoyed two summers at the Explorer Scouts Camp Grounds in Minnesota. Ron graduated from Richfield High School in Waco, Texas in 1970, where he was in the Richfield Marching Band. He pursued a degree in Forestry at Stephen F. Austin State University. He immediately decided that avenue was a bit calm for his adventures mind. The next semester he enrolled at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Lander, Wyoming. He received his degree after completing all the required Leadership Courses there such as Outdoor Survival Leadership, Wilderness Medicine and Rescue, Rock Climbing, Spelunking, and First Responder Certification. He loved all phases of nature and how to enjoy and survive among the various elements. He taught those courses at NOLS for the next nine years.

Scott Fisher, the famous Mt. Everest Climber, engaged Ron and other well-trained NOLS graduates to accompany him up Mt. Everest to bring down debris and trash left by former climbers, who often become disoriented. However, one of the climbers was weakened by Altitude Sickness and suffered much like ocean divers who get the bends and had to slowly be taken back down the mountain. Because of Ron's training in Wilderness Medicine, he was asked to ready the plastic devise subbing for an Iron Lung, and along with three others carried the gentleman back down the mountain to a safe level of breathing fresh air. Even though he did not complete the climb, he felt he experienced another aspect of outdoor life, survival in a real life experience.

Ron later became interested in the then “new” GPS or Global Positioning System. He journeyed to California to take a course in GPS use and was accepted to work with a land Survey Team which was the first stepping stone to a long career on ships doing oil exploration from the shores of Mexico and inland, to the deserts of Algeria, several African countries, to the North Sea and the deep seas of the Atlantic Ocean. His job was to interpret the language of the surveyors to a readable form to send back to the oil companies investing in the explorations, and also to deal with logistics and diplomatic boundaries of the countries where the ships were located. He once sent home a video he made of a helicopter landing with a person who was to check if the ship was in anyway causing danger to the whales with the underwater lines sent out to search for oil.

Uncle Ron was a loving, teaching guy who always had time to spend with his seven nephews. When each turned 15 he would take them on different wilderness experiences. Some to sail on his boat in Australia, one rock climbing, and others on trips he thought that particular one would enjoy. After a family Christmas in New Mexico one year, he took the five oldest boys to Colorado where he taught them how to make ice/snow blocks and they built an Igloo. He froze ice on a cookie sheet and they carefully inserted it in the ice blocks for windows in the Igloo. He taught them how to ski using Telemarketer Skis, which are skis that have a special binding so the heel can be free to maneuver the sharp turns on the mountain.

When home on two week breaks he often shared pictures and stories of the villages he was able to visit in different countries. He would study the country and people in every place the ships were stationed during their search for oil. He would eat the local food and learn about their faith and traditions. He brought home real tangible history in color through his excellent photography and his desire to mingle with local populations in his dedication to absorb all he could in his travels.

Ron was preceded in death by his father, Robert Carl (Bob) Weissinger, his grandparents, and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by his mother, Betty Weissinger, of Abilene, sister Beverly Deniece Weissinger (Allison Spruill) of Cedar Park, Texas; sister, Judith DeAnne Smith (Rich) of Olathe, Kan.; Nephews Ben Troja (Catrina) of Lawrence, Kan; Jake Troja (Becky), of Urbandale, IA; Adam Smith (Sara) of Roeland Park, Kan.; Brady Smith, (Rebecca), Overland Park, Kan.; Andrew Smith, Berthoud, Kan.; Kurt Mogonye, Elgin, TX and Dr. Jon-Eric Mogonye, Havre De Grace, MD, and five great nieces and nephews. He is also survived two aunts, Cora Freeman of Sweetwarter, TX Flora Boren of Portland, TX and a host of cousins. Ron shared a long-time friendship with Bill and Sharon Buzze and their sons, William and Jack, of Waco, TX who are Ron's Godsons.

Those wishing to honor Ron can consider donations to First Baptist Church's GLO Day Care Center, City Lights Ministry, Family Life Center at First Baptist Church 1333, N 3rd Street, Abilene, TX 79601, or to a charity of your choice.