Ronald Varner, 87, passed away on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, California. 

Born on April 22, 1930 in Santa Clara County, Ron was raised by Signa and Harry Varner in Turlock. He attended Lowell Grammar School and graduated from Turlock High School in 1947. 

Following his graduation, he attended Modesto Junior College, majoring in Business Administration for one year before working at Squaw and Sun Valley Ski Resorts. 

Ron was a veteran of the Korean War, during which he was stationed in Japan, training troops to ski for winter warfare. Following his service, he went on to attend the University of California Los Angeles, and was part of the first graduating class at the University of California Santa Barbara in 1959. He later earned his master’s degree at the University of California Berkeley.

Ron worked in the Modesto City School district for 40+ years, where he taught elementary students and pioneered special education programs. He was a lifelong member of the Modesto Ski Club and worked with the National Ski Patrol at Dodge Ridge and Bear Valley Ski Resorts for 35 years. He was an avid golfer and tennis player, and enjoyed travelling and spending time with family. Ron is preceded in his death by his wife, Joan Varner.

He is survived by three children, Susan, Brooks, and Alec; six grandchildren, Matt, April, Ian, Jesse Stevens, Lauren Movlai, and Anna Fehr; and two great-grandchildren, Weylend Stevens and Roan Varner.

A visitation will be held at 12 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m., on Tuesday, March 6, at Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock. A burial will immediately follow at Turlock Memorial Park.