Loris Ronald Underhill, 83, Beloit
BELOIT – Loris Ronald “ Ron” Underhill (83) was born on December 31, 1938, in Beloit, Kansas. He grew up on a farm near Scottsville and graduated as Valedictorian from Simpson High School in 1955.
After graduation, Ron joined the US Army and was stationed at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey where he met and married his wife, Ginny. After a brief tour overseas in Korea in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, Ron and Ginny settled in Montclair, California where they raised their 4 children: Pam, Jill, Vicki, and Gary.
While in California, Ron worked as a policeman, a deputy sheriff, a prison guard, a delivery truck driver for Betsy Ross Ice Cream, and he even spent a few months as a dance instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studios. In his spare time, Ron enjoyed taking his family camping at Carlsbad Beach and Salton Sea. He and Ginny also liked to square dance as a hobby.
In 1971, Ron packed up the family and moved back to the family farm in Kansas. In addition to farming, Ron also began doing construction work for his Uncle Dub (William Powell Construction) and, after learning the trade, eventually started his own company, Ron Underhill Construction.
Ron built many homes and business in the area including the homes of Dr. Drake, rural Beloit, Dr. Fugate, Beloit, and Dr. Conant in Smith Center, as well as several houses on Circle Drive and many other homes, additions, and remodels. He built a home for his daughter, Pam, in Salina and his own “ Dome” home i Beloit. He also built three McDonald’s restaurants, a hair salon in Salina and the Smith Center Church of the Nazarene.
Ron taught Carpentry and Cabinet Making at the VoTech school (now NCK Tech) for several years in the 1980’s. Ron loved carpentry and he was a natural craftsman who created many pieces of furniture for his wife and family.
After retiring at the end of 2000, Ron and Ginny continued to enjoy cruising. They completed 42 cruises all over the world in their lifetime. Ron also made several mission trips to Haiti, volunteering at the TLC Barefoot school where he built a structure to house the school’s generator.
Ron is preceded in death by his father and mother, Loris R. and Vurble Underhill, as well as his four sisters, Charlene Scherer, June Chapman, Patricia Walters, Mildred “ Midge” Christie, and son-in-law Mark Jackson. He is survived by his wife, Virginia “ Ginny” Underhill and four children, Pam (Steve) Kraus of Salina, Jill (Leonce) Jean-Baptiste of Indianapolis, Vicki Jackson of Beloit, Gary (Donise) Underhill of Beloit, and 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life service will be at the Beloit United Methodist Church at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 9, 2022.
Memorials can be made to the Beloit First United Methodist Church Radio Fund in care of Roberts Funeral Home. Roberts Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be left at www.robertsfamilyfs.com