Colonel William Ronald Mainord, USAF Retired, formerly of Greenville, died on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth. A graveside service will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at Shady Grove Cemetery under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home with Rev. Stephen Cotten officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 26, 2016 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.
Colonel Mainord, called Ron by family and Bill by military friends, was born on February 6, 1941, in south Rains County on the Mainord Ranch to W.T. and Faye Cochran Mainord.
After a family move to Greenville, Ron attended Greenville schools where he participated in basketball and track and was a class officer. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1959 and received a basketball scholarship to East Texas State College where he played for one year. His participation in ROTC at East Texas led him to a life of service to his country.
He enlisted in the Air Force in 1961 and was soon admitted to Officer Candidate School. As a young officer, he became a flight navigator and served one tour in Vietnam. After returning home to the U.S., he was stationed at Omaha, Nebraska, where he received his Bachelors and Master’s degrees in mathematics from Omaha University.
Ron was then able to go to pilot training, and he served as a pilot for a second tour in Vietnam. For the remainder of his 30 year Air Force career, he served in various places around the world, moved up the ranks to Colonel, and ended his service as the Defense Attaché to the Ambassador of Venezuela.
After retirement, Ron settled in the Granbury/ Fort Worth area. He was active in church, in the Lions Club, and in local aviation. He instructed student pilots, oversaw Air Force simulation training, flew firefighters into forest fire zones, and flew his own plane for the love of it.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, sister-in-law, Betty Mainord and brother-in-law, Sandy Cunningham.
He is survived by his five siblings, Jerry Bryant Mainord and wife Marcia of Greenville, Carlos Wayne Mainord and wife, Judy of Lubbock, Max Joel Mainord and wife, Maribette of Andrews, Marcia Kay Mainord Gilmore and husband, Joe of Caddo Mills, and Steve Allen Mainord and wife, Peggy of Duncanville. His memory is cherished by many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Colonel William Ronald Mainord, USAF Retired, will be long remembered for his love of family, friends and his country.
Donations may be made to Military Officers Association of America, www.moaa.org or Shady Grove Cemetery Association in care of Michelle Cole, 2549 CR 3104, Greenville, Texas 75402.