Ronald L. Naylor

Ronald L. Naylor of Youngsville, NC passed away on May 24, 2022.   Ron was born in La Jolla, CA to Horace and Eveline Naylor on February 23, 1934.

Ron graduated from San Diego High School and entered the U.S. Air Force at seventeen.   After four years of service, he returned to San Diego and graduated from San Diego State.

Ron was a successful engineer, working many years at Teledyne/Ryan Aeronautical.  His crowning accomplishment was designing and holding the patent for the Array Antenna that was part of the lunar module for Apollo 11, and the first moon landing on July 20, 1969.  

Ron’s talents were not limited.   He was a master woodworker, from furniture down to tiny clocks to the console for the organ at his church.    He was also very musically inclined and played the guitar, the saxophone, handbells, and the Contrabass clarinet.   Ron had the opportunity to travel with his church’s teen Folk Choir to cities and towns across the US for many years and this was particularly special to him.  During his down time, he and his wife, Connie, lovingly fostered many mama cats and their kittens, readying them for their forever homes.

Ron felt his biggest accomplishment in his life was to be a sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous his last 34 years and to have the privilege of helping several men find a new life, a good life, without alcohol.  He had an especially easy and gentle nature and was loved and respected by his many friends.

In addition to his parents, Ron was preceded in death by his brother, Horace Woody Naylor III.

Surviving Ron is his loving wife, Connie, of Youngsville, NC; his children Erin Drake (Fred), Colleen Schultz (Geoff), Ronald Naylor (Nicole), David Naylor (Michelle), Michael Naylor (Heather), Kimberly Naylor, Jeffrey Naylor (Embla), stepdaughter Allyson Solomon (Donnie) and fifteen grandchildren.

A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Wake Forest, NC.