Charles Ronald LaBar's Obituary
Charles Ronald ‘Ron’ LaBar, Lt. Col. (Retired)Ron was born March 16th 1943 in Rockaway Borough (Dover), New Jersey, to parents Charles Willard ‘Spot’ LaBar and Edith Laura (Doggett) LaBar. The family moved from New Jersey to Daytona Beach, FL, when Ron was in First grade. They moved several more times in Ron’s early years to Orlando, FL; Texas City, TX; Lamar, MO; and finally settling in Miami, Florida, when Ron was in junior high school. Ron met his lifelong friends Lee Finley, Herb Winters and Steve Johnson in Miami.He graduated from Miami Edison High School in 1961 in Miami, Florida. Ron Played Football at Miami Edison High School on a team that won the state championship game in 1961. He met Marilyn, his high school sweetheart, at Miami Edison in art class. They were married on August 23, 1963.Ron continued to Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, graduating in the fall of 1965 with a master’s degree in history. He went through Air Force ROTC and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1965.Ron and Marilyn’s first son Charles Willard ‘Chuck’ LaBar was born in 1965 in Tallahassee, Florida, followed by Ronald Douglas ‘Ron’ LaBar born in 1967 in Rantoul, Illinois, and finally Pamela Ann ‘Pam’ LaBar born in 1972 in Tallahassee, Florida.Achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, (1965-1986) serving 20 years, Ron retired in 1986. Having duty in Illinois, Vietnam, Panama, Florida (twice) and Nevada. After returning from Vietnam he ran the FSU ROTC program in Tallahassee, FL; then followed with an overseas tour in the Panama Channel Zone. Returning stateside, he ran the Air Force Conference Center at Homestead, AFB. His final tour of duty was at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV, where he was Chief of Protocol until his retirement. Other training assignments required short stays in Alabama and Mississippi. He began his second career working for the City of Las Vegas, retiring as the Deputy Director of Building and Safety after nearly 18 years of service. Ron and Marilyn lived in Las Vegas, NV, for nearly 32 years, then moved to Fort Myers, Florida, in 2014 to be closer to family, fishing and their childhood roots.Ron was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman. Wherever the Air Force took the family Ron always learned the local fishing and hunting spots. Spending many memorable trips in the Florida Everglades and mountains of Nevada with family and friends. These interests will live on in his children and grandchildren.He began painting as a child and continued through adulthood. Ron is known for his wildlife paintings especially focusing on reptiles and fish and participated in many art shows. Ron is survived by his wife Marilyn Poorman LaBar; children Chuck LaBar and wife Kimberly, Ron LaBar and wife Beth, Pamela Cushman and husband Cole; grandsons Chase LaBar, Nathanial Cushman, Justin LaBar, Conor LaBar and Thomas Cushman; brother Robert LaBar and wife Doris; and cousins Ken LaBar, Terry Doggett, Rick and Wayne Bovert; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by an infant brother, his father Charles LaBar and his mother Edith LaBar.A private Memorial Service will be held at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida. (www.fortmyersmemorial.com) In lieu of flowers please donate to a military veterans’ charity of your choice.
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