To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 4/21/20 • Approved: 4/22/20 • Last Updated: 6/29/23 • R1312040-G0-S3
April 9, 1937 - June 14, 2019
Ronald C. Lyon, 82 of Camden, AR passed away Friday, June 14, 2019 at the Ouachita County Medical Center. He was born April 09, 1937 to Risley N. Lyon Jr., and Helen L. Singer Lyon. Ronnie was born in Hampton, Arkansas, along with 3 sisters. He played trumpet with the University of Arkansas marching band while a student there.
He enlisted in the Air Force in January, 1956. His first duty assignment was in Misawa, Japan. They had boarded the USNS ship E. B. Patrick and set sail under the Golden Gate Bridge for the port of Yokohama. He served two years duty in Japan, then was transferred back to the USA. They left Japan in the new Lockheed Super Constellation Aircraft. Enroute they made a brief landing on Midway Island where he saw his first Gooney Bird (Albatross of the North Pacific). The name “Gooney” fits them perfectly. His next assignment was the newly built Little Rock AFB. While there he served several temporary duty tours in England, Spain, Azore Islands, and Goose Bay, Labrador.
Ronnie’s next assignment was to Aviano, Italy in December, 1960. His future wife, Gianna, was the first Italian he met when he arrived there. He saw this beautiful girl working in the Base Exchange, and it was love at first sight, although it was a couple of years before they started dating. They finally got together and dated for about a year before Ronnie got up enough nerve to ask her to marry him. (He said it was the smartest thing he ever did.) She accepted and they started getting marriage papers together, which was a nightmare. Both the Italian and U.S. military required a ton of paperwork which had to be translated into both languages. They finally got it completed and were married in Aviano on April 19,1965. The day of their wedding it was customary for the bride to walk from her home to the church. So, dressed In her beautiful bridal gown and escorted by her father, and what looked like most of the people of Aviano following behind her, she made her way to the church. They had a beautiful Mass said, and afterwards a reception at a nearby city. They had 300 guests where they treated everyone to a 12-course meal with wine and champagne, topped off by an 8-tier cake. They then drove to Rome in his Fiat Spider for their honeymoon.
When they returned, they packed for Ronnie’s next assignment in London, England where they spent two years. Then they returned to the U. S. where he was honorably discharged from the Air Force.
Ronnie then enrolled in college, and after 3 years, received a BBA degree. He went to work as Assistant City Manager in Camden.
Gianna and Ronnie were married for 8 years before their son, Matthew was born. They are so justifiably proud of him. He got his BBA, MED, MBA, and a doctorate in higher education at UALR.
Ronnie ended his military career in the U. S Army Reserve where he served for 14 years.
He had a total of 26 years of military service.
Besides his parents, Ronnie was preceded in death by one sister, Linda Lyon Lefler.
He is survived by his wife, Gianna Lyon of Camden, AR; son, Dr. Matthew Lyon and wife, Bridgette of Little Rock, AR; sisters, Brenda Rast and husband, Carroll of Camden, AR and Bonnie Lyon of Bend, OR; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be 11:00AM Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at the St. Louis Catholic Church. A Rosary will be 10:00AM Tuesday before the service. Father William Burmester will be officiating. Proctor Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Read Less
Contributed on 4/21/20 by debbraszymanski
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 1312040