Ronald Dean Stokes, 84, died Thursday, May 9, 2024. Ronald, also known as “Ronnie,” was born Nov. 13, 1939 in Hollygrove, Arkansas, to Dewey and Helen (Hankwitz) Stokes. The family moved to Coos Bay when he was young to work in the logging industry, then moved to Lebanon during his high school years, where he graduated.
During the Vietnam war he served in the U.S. Army at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, as a draftsman from 1963 to 1965, when he was honorably discharged. He then attended Oregon State University and graduated with a business and construction engineering degree in 1972.
After college he worked for the highway department at Oregon Department of Transportation before he started a road construction company with his two brothers, Duane and Dewey Jr., which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. Ronnie was married to Eva (Lynch) Breitweiser for 36 years and they raised their two sons, Kevin and Brian, in Philomath.
Ronnie enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, and fishing, hunting and casino time with lifelong friends and family that were special to him. He will be remembered for his kindness and generosity towards others and for his constant presence and positive influence on many more.
Ronnie was preceded in death by his brother, Duane, and sister, Charlotte Florez; brother-in-law, Oscar Florez; and sister-in-law, Geraldine (Plinski). He is survived by his brother, Dewey Stokes Jr.; his sister-in-law, Sonja (Campbell) Stokes-Webb; his sons, Kevin and Brian Stokes; his daughters-in-law, Rebecca (Wilson) and JonnaVe (Schrock); his nephews, Kelly, Brett and Justin Stokes; his nieces, Kim (Stokes) Espinoza, Christy (Stokes) Swank and Carey (Florez) Driver; and grandchildren, Jedidiah and Olivia Stokes. A private service is being held in his honor on June 1, 2024.