Ronald Staten

Ronald Orlando Staten, 71, of Jackson passed away Friday, April 9, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Dec. 15, 1938, in Jackson, son of Orlando D. and Irene Nance Staten. He and Elma R. Whitfield were married Oct. 25, 1958, in Cape Girardeau.

Ronald was a 1957 graduate of Jackson High School and a noted athlete. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University in 1976. He worked at the former Marquette Cement Plant in Cape Girardeau and 30 years with Natural Gas Pipeline of America, retiring in 1996.

Ronald was a charter member of Jackson Jaycees and a former member of Jackson City Planning and Zoning Commission. When his daughters were young he was involved in the Jackson girls basketball and softball Little League programs.

In his early Christian years, Ron was active at Futrell Memorial Church of God in Christ in Jackson, and was ordained a deacon in 1962. In 2000 he transferred membership to Greater Dimension Ministries Church of God in Christ in Cape Girardeau, where he was the former chairman of the finance committee, and was also district Sunday school superintendent for the COGIC.

Always the entrepreneur, Ron was owner/manager of the former Creative Arrangement Florist, Whitfields Fine Dining, Unique Caterers and Whitfields His and Hers Boutique, all in Cape Girardeau.

Loving survivors include his wife of 51 years; four daughters and sons-in-law, Ronda and William White of Leawood, Kan., Lorri and Reginald Patterson of Montgomery, Ala., Mia and Warren Herring of Fairview Heights, Ill., Malaika and William Chavous of O'Fallon, Ill.; a brother, Carlton (Patricia) Staten of Surprise, Ariz.; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Greater Dimension Church, with Dr. William Bird Sr. officiating. Interment will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may be made to the Greater Dimension Ministries COGIC Benevolence Fund.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.