Ronald Keith Webster

Ronald Keith Webster, known to his close family and friends as Keith, was born in the town of Balaclava, of St. Elizabeth Parish in Jamaica, WI, to Gwendolyn and William Webster on July 5th 1937. His Father passed away when he was three years old and was raised by his mother until her passing when he was ten years old. He then went on to live with his aunt & uncle, Ivy and Arnold Isaacs, and attended Kingston College graduating in 1955 and then began working at Seprod LTD electing to work in the higher paying manufacturing department over the more prestigious administrative office. He left Jamaica in 1959 at the age of 22 for the United States in hopes of building a good life.

He lived with friends upon his arrival in the U.S. and enrolled in the RCA Institutes to study electronics. He graduated in 1960 and went to in the electronics repair service industry as a repair technician.

His life changed forever when he met Yvonne Campbell at a party given by mutual friends in March of 1960. He was smitten and clear about the fact that he wanted her and won her heart. They became engaged in October of 1961 and married on December 2nd 1961 in Brooklyn, New York and he became, at once, part of a large extended family that included three brother's in-law, 5 sister's in-law and a host of nieces and nephews. They soon welcomed their first child, Karen Ann in September of 1962 and bought their first house in 1965 in Brooklyn, New York.

He went to work for General Electric (GE) in 1966 as a repair technician where he thrived, advancing to supervisor and the manager throughout a successful 22 year career. In 1967 he and Yvonne welcomed their second child, a son, Ronald Keith II. In 1973 he moved his family to Freeport, New York on Long Island where they enjoyed a good life and formed enduring friendships. His work with GE led him to Kansas City where he relocated with his wife and son in 1985. He retired from GE in 1988 and began to run a successful leased cafeteria business with his wife Yvonne for several years. In 1991his household expanded to include his beloved mother in-law, Naomi Campbell, whom he and Yvonne lovingly cared for her until her passing in 2005. He and his wife were delighted to welcome a granddaughter, Lexa Brooke, in 2008, and she was the light of his life every day until his last. He loved his family and dearly loved by them. He took great care in providing for and guiding them.

He made many lasting friendships which he nurtured and treasured throughout his years. He enjoyed traveling and visiting with all of his friends and family. He had an adventurous spirit and varied interests. He explored hunting, fishing, wine making, and gardening and was a true do-it-yourselfer and fix-it man. He was also an avid amateur photographer capturing and impressive archive priceless family moments over 50 years. He possessed an immense intellectual curiosity, was extremely well read and enjoyed sharing his knowledge with all that would listen and was the "go-to" guy for everyone that had a question on just about anything….his opinions were sought by many. He was an extremely practical man that was able to plan and save extremely well - often advising and always setting an example for others.

He was diagnosed with diabetes in the early 1980's and eventually required and received a successful kidney transplant in 2001. Unfortunately heart disease became his next challenge to which he eventually succumbed on July 20th 2010, after bravely undergoing a challenging open heart surgery to repair his heart.

He is survived by his wife Yvonne, daughter Karen, son Ron and his wife Devra, his granddaughter, Lexa Brooke, Sister Cecile, and very close cousins Derrick Isaacs and Donna Stephens. He is also survived by a host of over 40 dearly loved brothers' in-law, sister's in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Dear Family & Friends,

In lieu of flowers we respectfully ask you to consider making donations to either the National Kidney Foundation or the National Heart Association so that we can get closer to resolving these major health issues that strike more and more people everyday. We want other families to not have to suffer the effects of these diseases. Again, we thank all of you for your love, prayers and support during this time.

Love,

The Webster Family

The links to the websites are noted below.

American Heart Association

https://donate.americanheart.org/ecommerce/donation/acknowledgement_info.jsp?campaignId=&itemId=prod20007&site=Heart

National Kidney Foundation

https://www.kidney.org/support/makegift/index.cfm

Visitation and Funeral Service

A visitation will be held Thursday, July 29, 2010, from 5 to 7 pm at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. A memorial service will be Friday, July 30, 2010, at 12 noon at The Unity Church of Overland Park, 10300 Antioch Road, Overland Park, Kansas.