Obituary of Ronald Richard Tidball

Ronald Richard Tidball was born into the teeth of the Great Depression on July 13, 1930 in Greeley, Colorado to Claude Lester and Marilla Demaris Tidball. He grew up in Eaton, Colorado, helping his parents in their dry cleaning business. While Ron did learn how to shovel coal for the boiler and operate the cleaning machinery, more importantly, the work ethic he developed served him the rest of his life.Ron attended Eaton High School and graduated in 1948, second in his class. During his senior year, he was hired by the school district to drive the school bus to gather in the "farm kids" from the newly consolidated Eaton school system. Old friends still recognize him as their bus driver. Ron left Eaton in 1948 to attend Colorado A&M College at Fort Collins. He studied Forestry. He enrolled in advanced ROTC, thereby deferring the draft until his graduation. Ron graduated from CSU in 1952 with a Bachelor's Degree and a commission in the Air Force. He was assigned to Aircraft Control and Warning, and was sent to Misawa AFB, Japan, where he served for two years.Ron married Grace Anderson in 1953. Three children resulted from this marriage: Lory Tidball Rhine, Richard Stanley Tidball and Linnea Tidball O'Mealy. Ron took full advantage of the GI bill, earning a Master's Degree in Forestry from the University of Washington. He earned his PhD in soil science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1965.Ron returned to Denver and worked for the United States Geological Survey for thirty years, until his retirement in 1995. He worked on projects in nine western states, and published a number of scientific papers.Ron's marriage ended in 1972. In 1975, he re-married. Jean McLarty Tidball was a mathematics teacher in Denver Public Schools. Together they rode many miles as touring bicyclists, visiting New Zealand, the Canadian Rockies, France and Great Britain. In 1977, they purchased a home in Tabernash, Colorado, where they spent weekends, and then in 1996 they made Tabernash their full-time residence. Ron used his forestry skills to remove beetle killed trees from their property. Ron had prepared well for retirement, completing a course in antique clock repair at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School in Denver. He had a small clock repair business in his home. He cultivated an interest in mosses, and read widely.Recognizing the onset of aging, Ron and Jean moved to MacKenzie Place in Colorado Springs in 2008. Ron developed Adult Macular Degeneration. His ability to practice the activities he enjoyed decreased. He began studying braille. Early in 2014, during their yearly trip to Cancun, Ron fell over a wall he didn't see, and suffered a severe head injury. From that time until his death, he suffered from aphasia, as well as increasing blindness.He will be remembered for his curiosity and tenacity, as well as his gentle manner in the face of increased physical challenges. He will be missed. A Celebration of Ron's Life will be held, 2:00PM on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the First Congregational Church, 20 East Saint Vrain Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903.Donations may be made in Ron's memory to the Foundation Fighting Blindness (www. blindness.org) or First Congregational Church.Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services3115 East Platte AvenueColorado Springs, , COUS 80909 Events Service Saturday, November 5, 2016 2:00PM First Congregational Church 20 E. St. Vrain Colorado Springs, CO Phone: 719-328-1793