Ronnie Penn Rabb, 77, of Greenville passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on October 22, 2009 at Baylor Hospital of Carrollton. A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 30, 2009 at 1:00 pm at Kavanaugh United Methodist Church with Rev. Ann Barton officiating. Graveside service to follow at Memoryland Memorial Park. Coker-Mathews Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ronnie was born February 24, 1932 in Greenville to Thomas Morrow "Togo" and Ona Maddox Rabb. He was brought up there as an active member of the community, exploring many talents. In high school he was an all-state guard on the 1949 Greenville Lions football team. He attended East Texas State University where he met Carole Inman. They were married Sept. 3, 1955 in Commerce. Ron then attended and was a proud graduate of Texas A&M University. He had a long career as an Air Force Civil Engineer and Commander and achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel, serving in the Viet Nam War. After retiring in 1976, he worked as a public works director for the City of Greenville. Having resigned from that position, he went on to establish and operate Ron Rabb Design and Rabb Farms. Several buildings and many houses were in Hunt County were designed by him, among them the Lone Star Credit Union Greenville branch and the Animal Medical Center. As a rancher he strived to improve and expand his family's cattle operation in Lone Oak. He was a member of Kavanaugh United Methodist Church and of the Military Officers Association. He was also an active member in the Rotary Club in Greenville.
Ron was a loving father and husband, and good friend to many in the area.
His survivors include his son Pendleton Pratt Rabb and wife, Neli and granddaughter Kalina Carole Rabb of Austin; daughter Robin Rabb Pattison and husband, Tim and grandson Timothy Shane Pattison of Carrollton; aunt Rosemary Trail of Tucson, Arizona; and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 2005 and his parents.
The family request memorials be made to the American Heart Association.
