Ronald Frederick Smith

Ronald "Ron" Frederick Smith, 84, of Sun City and formerly Dallas, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2025 as the sun rose. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 27, 1941, a son of the late Bernard and Helen Smith, and younger brother to Howard. Ron lived a full and colorful life that saw him succeed in countless endeavors---far too many to name all of them here. From building and managing a hotel, working on Wall Street, to owning a movie theater whose claim to fame was being one of the first instances of offering a live, pay-per-view event (the Rumble in the Jungle fight in 1974 between George Foreman and Muhammed Ali), to owning a race horse (this one did not end so well for the horse), to moving to Texas in 1978 to open a Chinese restaurant in Dallas (as New York Jews are wont to do), to breeding and showing his beloved Bijons, and finally, to what he was most well-known for professionally, being a successful, award-winning, luxury custom home builder throughout the DFW area. Ron's career spanned decades and industries. Those who had the pleasure of knowing Ron knew him as a charismatic storyteller, always ready to spin an engaging yarn that would leave a smile on your face. Did he really hang out with Andy Warhol at the Factory back in 1970s? No one truly knows, but it is now forever part of his lore and a hilarious illustration of a life that saw him go to unexpected places and do unexpected things. A loving husband, father and grandfather, Papa Ron is survived by his loving wife, Abby, and his children of a previous marriage, Susan and Kraig. His memory lives on through his step-sons, Matt and Corey, and his grandchildren, Samuel, August, Austin, Audrey, Dylan, Isabella, and Noah. Donation's can be made in Ron's name to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/. A graveside service will take place on Monday, May 12, 2025 at 10:30 am at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery (2800 Hancock Drive Austin, TX 78731), followed by lunch at Corey and Lorena Egan's home at 10401 Treasure Island Drive Austin, Texas 78730. In addition, a Livestream of the funeral service will be shown on the Austin Natural Funerals' Facebook page shortly before 10:30 am at https://www.facebook.com/AustinNaturalFunerals.

Ronald Frederick Smith

February 27, 1941 - May 8, 2025