Ronald Urbas Obituary

Ronald D. Urbas, 63, of Houston, Pa., died in his home on Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born Dec. 23, 1942 in Strabane to John and Josephine Sunday Urbas and worked from age 18 until a few months before his death as a machinist foreman at Canon Tool Co., Canonsburg. Ron enjoyed target shooting; gun collecting; nature; science fiction; reading nonfiction science, astronomy and physics, and parachuting and was a pilot of single-engine airplanes. Mr. Urbas was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. His strength, intelligence, sense of humor and moral character were unique to Ron alone. He put everyone and their happiness above his own. Everyone fortunate enough to have known him was touched with his knowledge and generosity of spirit. Surviving are wife Linda Lee Evans Urbas and granddaughter Jordan Manko, at home; daughters Dawn Samples (Mark), of Satellite Beach, Fla., Cathy Bell and Michelle "Shelly" Diesel (Ed), of Houston, and Carol Oklesson (Rob), of Edwards, Calif.; other grandchildren Jessie and Mindy Bell, Courtney Urbas, Jared and Kenzi Diesel, Dustin and Deanna Oklesson and Hunter and Chaz Samples, and brothers Joseph and Robert Urbas, of Cecil. Deceased are brother Jack Urbas and sister Romaine Urbas. A private memorial service for family and close friends will be at a later date. Arrangements by the MCILVAINE-SPEAKMAN FUNERAL HOME LTD., Houston. Please view or add tributes at www.woodrufffamilyservices.com.