Greenville Herald Banner Wed. June 6, 2004
Ronnie Dale Tidwell, 61, of Celeste died June 7, 2004. A memorial service is scheduled at 3 p.m. today at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home in Paris. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home in Greenville. Burial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Webb Hill Cemetery.
Ronnie, an only child, was born Dec. 1, 1942 to C.A. and Alyne Tidwell. From a very early age Ronnie participated in the family business of farming and ranching. This participation provided many lessons and ultimately helped him into what he was to become. Along with the life lessons he learned on the farm, Ronnie attended and gradual ed from Wolfe City High School. After graduation, he attended East Texas State .University where he received an undergraduate and graduate degree in agricultural science. Upon graduation Ronnie began a long and rewarding career with the Soil Conservation Service. His final career move involved going to Paris in February 1976 as district conservationist.
Besides work, Ronnie was involved in several organizations with two entities standing out for him in terms of importance. First, he loved being a part of Gideons. The Sunday morning breakfasts, the speaking engagements and above all, the distribution of Bibles gave him great joy. Along with Gideons, Ronnie gave immeasurable time and effort to the Breakfast Optimist Club and its baseball programs. Even before, as well as after his sons participated in their program, Ronnie became a tireless supporter. There were other activities that occupied his time including the teaching of Sunday school at First United Methodist Church in Paris where he worshiped for many years.
In terms of family, Ronnie married Carolyn Wall on May 30, 1964. Born to him and Carolyn were three children. Carolyn, though, passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 18, 2002. Shortly after her death, Ronnie moved back to the family farm to be near his M*. . parents and the land he loved. While there, Ronnie married Char;sey Nichols on Sept. 5,2003. At the time of his death, Ronnie resided with Charlsey in the White Rock Community in Hunt County.
Ronnie's love, devotion and guidance will be greatly missed by those he left behind which include his parents, Alyne and Cecil Tidwell of Wolfe City; wife Charlsey and her son Brad Nichols, his wife Barbi and their two sons Zach and Zane; daughter Robin and her husband Barry Halcomb of Paris; son Wes and wife Julie Tidwell of Paris and son Chris and wife Kerri Tidwell of Gainesville; and grandchildren Matt, Jessica and Josh Halcomb, Sutten Tidwell and Alex Tidwell.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Carolyn.
