Ronald Jon Pendergast, 87, of Gainesville, Texas, passed away on September 11, 2026. He was born August 9, 1939, in Oswego, New York, to William and Lillian Pendergast, and made Texas his home for nearly 60 years.

Ron proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Lance Corporal. He later attended the University of North Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate and a Master of Arts in History. He retired from Chrysler Corporation after nearly 30 years of service.

On March 1, 1963, Ron married Doris Jeanette. Together they shared more than 63 years of marriage, raised two children, Susan and Ross, and built a family that would grow to include six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Throughout his life, Ron enjoyed many interests, but he especially loved a good book. He passed that love of reading on to his children and then to another generation, often taking his children and grandchildren to the bookstore and buying them books. He took great pride in his coin collection, loved to walk, and was rarely one to sit still for long. There was almost always something to fix, something to work on, or something to be done around the property.

Ron was never short on advice or a life lesson to share—whether his family thought they needed one at the time or not. He enjoyed teasing those around him and had a dry, sometimes slightly offbeat sense of humor that was all his own. You always knew where you stood with him.

Ron loved his family deeply, although he was often quieter about saying it. Instead, he showed it in the things he did, the lessons he taught, and the way he was always there. For Ron, taking care of his family was simply what you did. His love for Doris, his children, and the family they built together was a constant throughout his life.

Ron is survived by his wife of 63 years, Doris; his daughter, Susan Serrano and her husband, Charles; and his son, Ross Pendergast and his wife, Dee. He was “Granddaddy” to six grandchildren: Megan Leeper and her husband, Justin; Jerod Douthit; the late Garrett Pendergast; Trevor Pendergast and his wife, Jess; Dylan Pendergast and his wife, Rebekah; and Miranda Pendergast. He was “Great Granddaddy” to Emerson and Arwen Leeper and a beloved uncle to his nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, William and Lillian Pendergast; his siblings, Chuck, Bill, Gene and Donna; and his grandson, Garrett Pendergast.

To his family, his legacy is found not only in what he accomplished, but in the example he set and the way he lived his life.