Ronald Wallace Robertson

We sadly announce the passing of Ronald W. Robertson on Thursday December 22, 2011 at Three Rivers Hospital in Grants Pass of congestive heart failure. He was 72. Arrangements are being handled by Hull & Hull Funeral Directors, www.since1928hull.com. A celebration of Ron’s life will be held on Friday, December 30, 2011 @ 2:00 pm at the Josephine County Fairgrounds Flower Building in Grants Pass with Jim Smith, longtime friend, officiating.

Ron was born on January 27, 1939 in Grants Pass @ Josephine Memorial Hospital to Wallace and LaVita Robertson. He grew up in Grants Pass and attended Grants Pass High School with the graduating class of 1957, playing multiple sports excelling in track while running the hurdles.

On June 17, 1969 he married Carla Eldred, in Reno, Nevada. Ron worked for his brother Ken @ Ken Robertson Logging Company, which eventually became Robco, Inc in 1962. Robco worked for many years building miles of the forest roads all over Southern Oregon for many timber companies as well as the BLM and Forest Service. As the timber industry slowed, Robco had to adapt and eventually bought a rock quarry and moved into more private excavation, grading, and eventually underground and paving as it continues to do today. In 1998, Ron and Carla purchased Robco from his brother Ken and his wife Joyce, and continue to operate it today with their sons, Byron and Eric.

Ron loved to hunt, ride snowmobiles, watch NASCAR, and in his youth water skiing and snow skiing, but most of all, he enjoyed his grandchildren. Ron was a past member of the Elks Lodge, Rogue Snowmobilers, Grants Pass Golf Club, and an active member of the North Valley Booster Club. He helped coach multiple youth sports as his sons grew up including soccer and junior basketball and was instrumental in establishing the North Valley Junior Basketball Program. He volunteered or donated to many youth organizations and always would help out an organization that was all about kids. One of the projects he was most passionate about was the development of the North Valley Stadium. He donated many hours of equipment, labor, and materials to help build the field and prepare for building of the grandstands, and always said he wished he had enough money to finish the project, so the kids would have a great facility to play football and soccer in front of their fans at the high school.

Ron is survived by his wife Carla, his sister JeanAnn Lillard of Orange County, California, two sons, Byron and his wife Tori and their children Shauntel, Jordan, Bryce, and Brady, and Eric and his son Preston all of Grants Pass, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Kenneth and Bruce Robertson.

In lieu of flowers, the family on the behalf of Ron request donations be made to the North Valley High School Stadium Committee in the name of Ronald Robertson to help fulfill one his biggest dreams. Donations can be mailed to North Valley High School, 6741 Monument Drive, Grants Pass, OR 97526.