Ronald Clarence Florence Ronald “Ron” Clarence Florence, age 66, a resident of Kingsville, Texas since 1945 passed away Saturday, February 6, 2010 in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was born on November 12, 1943 in San Antonio, Texas to Harold Douglas Florence and Ruth Stoker Florence. Mr. Florence graduated with a BBA in Finance from Texas A&M University in 1965. He served five years in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, Europe and the United States and was honorably discharged in 1970 with the rank of Captain. He joined the Kingsville Insurance Agency in 1970. Later he opened Ron Florence Insurance Agency in March of 1992, a division of Swantner & Gordon. He served on various insurance company producer advisory committees. Mr. Florence was a member of St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church, Past-President of the Kingsville Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Foundation, Kiwanis Club and Coastal Bend A&M Club, Kleberg- Kenedy County Livestock Show and Friends of FFA. He served on the Board of Directors of Texas A&M 12th Man Foundation and Texas A&I Javelina Club. He was also President of the John E. Conner Museum.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Elizabeth “Betsy” Florence of Kingsville; three sons, Stephen (Debi) Florence of Bloomington, Illinois, Christopher (Jill) Florence of Houston, Texas and Gregory (Stacey) Florence of Kingsville; brother, Harold Douglas “Doug” (Valda) Florence Jr. of Austin, Texas; seven grandchildren, Matthew, Darby, Parker, Hayden, Olivia, Erich and Madelyn Florence; and many cousins, nephews and nieces.

Public visitation took place on Monday, February 8, 2010 from 7:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Turcotte-Piper Mortuary Chapel. Funeral Mass was celebrated at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church with Fr. Piotr Koziel as celebrant. Burial with full military honors provided by the Veterans of Kleberg County Military Funeral Detail followed in Kingsville at Chamberlain Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers were Winston Kelly, Peyton McNeill, Bill Durham, Tom Harris, Edward Pennington, John Arnold, Fred Hobrecht, Jack Parker and Reagan Lee. Active pallbearers were Kendall Durham, Ty Harris, Krece Harris, Douglas Florence, Mike Donaldson and Tony Reyes.

Memorials may be made to John E. Conner Museum at Texas A&M University - Kingsville, 700 University Blvd., MSC 134, Kingsville, Texas 78363.

Services were entrusted to Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd., Kingsville, Texas.