Ronald D. Andrews
Ronald Darwin Andrews, age 88, entered Heaven's Gates, June 02, 2025.
Born January 17, 1937 to Donald Cardell Andrews and Alma “Billie” Travis Andrews, near Falcon, MO, on his grandparents, Abraham and Ida Travis Farm, near Drynob, MO. Ronnie was a long-time resident of Marshfield, MO.
Ronnie is preceded in death by his parents, one sister and brother-in-law, June and Wayne Reid, one brother Gene Travis Andrews, one daughter Teresa Dawn Andrews Morgan and one step granddaughter Mallory Mellington Henson.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Ella Andrews, of 37 1/2 years of Strafford Care Center, Strafford, MO, 2 sons, Jim Andrews and wife Bea, of San Antonio, TX, Don Andrews of Grovespring, MO, 3 step sons, John Mellington, Chuck Mellington and Jason Mellington of KS and MO and their families, one step daughter Cindy Clements and husband Doug of Lamar, MO, and their families, grandchildren, Shawn, Jason, Josh, Justin and Sarena Andrews all of TX, Jonathon Travis (J.T.) Andrews Brackett of Conway, MO, Sara Morgan of FL, Josh Morgan of St. Louis, MO, with whom Ronnie baby sat when he was small, and Zachary Morgan of FL. 2 great granddaughters, Rhianna and Reesa Erdmann of FL, 4 great grandchildren of TX and 2 great grandsons of MO. One sister-in-law, Betty Andrews and niece Debby Apon (Gary) and their family, Aimee, Travis, Arika and family, all of Springdale, AR, nieces Darietta Howe and family, Chrissey, Kevin and Wesley Howe all of Stoutland, MO, and Marietta Chastain of Lebanon, MO, other family and a host of friends around Lebanon and Marshfield area. Ronnie was like a brother to Darietta and Marietta, as he was a part of their family for a few years before joining the US Army.
Ronnie attended Detherage Grade School where he walked from home and Lebanon High School where he played football. Ronnie was saved and baptized at Oakhurst Baptist Church, in OK, as a young man. Ronnie later taught Sunday School and was an active member of Temple Baptist Church, Marshfield, MO.
Ronnie joined the US Army in November 1954 at the age of 17, soon to be 18, and served until February 1962 with an honorable discharge as Corporal E4 Infantry Soldier Paratrooper. Ronnie was so very proud of his 106 paratrooper jumps and loved to tell the stories. His basic training was at Fort Bliss, TX, and Airborne training at Fort Campbell, KY. He served in the Elite 11 th and 118 th Airborne Divisions, 187 th and 188 th Infantry Regiments, 505 th Airborne Battle Group, Elite 82 nd Airborne Division, Reassigned to 8 th Infantry Division to Augsburg, Germany 1955 - 1956 and 24 th Infantry Division to Beirut, Lebanon 1958, jumping into Hezbollah Militia, Fort Bragg 1960 and Wiesbaden, Germany 1961-1962, with time served during Korea and Vietnam. Ronnie was an active member of VFW Post 4101 of Marshfield, MO.
Ronnie and Gene went to Neosho, MO, School of Water Treatment and Sewer in 1964 and upon graduation he worked as a trainer at the school for two years. He then worked for Cedarvale, KS, City Water Dept. for a few years, for a contractor in Burlington, KS, later Van Stavern Construction in Lebanon, MO, over the-road trucking for Wayne Daniels Trucking Co. and Dale and R. G. Lillard Trucking and retiring from Marathon Electric in Lebanon, MO, where he worked with his son Don for a while. He enjoyed horses and after retiring he spent time locally team roping and taking care of livestock on a nearby farm for Wayne Galbraith, a good friend.
Ronnie and Martha were married December 10, 1987. Ronnie cared for Martha over 11 years with Alzheimer’s disease until his health began failing 5 years ago. They both moved to Webco Manor of Marshfield, MO, in January 2020 and later to Strafford Care Center, Strafford, MO, with their rooms across the hall from each other, where Ronnie could see Martha from his bed.
Though Ronnie is no longer with us, his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched. His love and strength will forever remain in our hearts. We take comfort knowing that he is at peace with Jesus.
Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Fraker Funeral Home, Inc. Interment will follow in Welch Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m until service time Sunday in the funeral home.
The family suggests memorial contributions can be made to Welch Cemetery or VFW Post #4101 in care of Fraker Funeral Home, Inc., P.O. Box 85, Marshfield, MO 65706.