Ronald LLoyd Burgess

The Obituary of Ronald Lloyd Burgess

Today, we are blessed to gather and to remember the precious memories and many milestones in the long life of Ronald (AKA, Ronnie or Ron) Burgess. He was indeed and will always be a very special person to all of us here and to those who have already “crossed over” to the heavenly kingdom to welcome him.

His birth and life began on February 20, 1945, at 3:20 pm., in a small hospital in Los Angeles, California. His mother Claudia was staying with her parents as her husband Lloyd was serving as an instructor in the Army Air Corps far away, during World War II.

After the war ended, the little family relocated to Gardena, where many veterans used the G.I. Bill to invest in their first home. Little Ronnie soon had a baby sister Marsha, who he was so proud of. Two years later, a third child Michael was born, and a move to Whittier, California followed. The family would remain there always and a fourth and last child, Renee, was born two years later.

Ronnie attended local schools in Whittier throughout his childhood and teenage years, as well as Whittier College, until he was drafted in February 1967, to serve in the U.S. Army in Vietnam as the Battalion Commander’s Radio Operator – a very important and pivotal position, but also one that was a target for enemy forces. Upon surviving his “tour of duty”, he returned stateside to continue his college education using the G.I. Bill.

Ronnie later married and had the gift of parenting a lovely daughter, Candace Ann. However, it was a brief marriage (3 years), and divorce followed. He remained single for a number of years.

An unfortunate health crisis developed one night as Ron collapsed and was taken by ambulance to the local hospital – diagnosis: a cerebral aneurysm (major stroke on one side of his body). Experimental brain surgery was immediate, but there was no guarantee of survival. Without the surgery, death would result. Fortunately, he did survive but would spend a full year in rehab at Rancho Los Amigos, Downey, to regain 90% physically. The surgeon dubbed him their “boy wonder!”

Upon Ron’s recovery, he returned to church at St. Dominic Savio in North Bellflower and renewed friendships. Attending a social event for young adults at the La Mirada Country Club, he was approached by a brunette young lady who expressed how happy she was to see him. Introductions were quickly exchanged and many dances followed. Before the evening ended, phone numbers were exchanged, and the rest is history!

They married on September 27, 1980, at St. Cyprian’s Catholic Church in Lakewood and were excited to share their lives together. A pair of twin daughters were born on September 3, 1985 – Jessica and Veronica.

Ron and Karen were looking forward to a special celebration for their 45th anniversary this year, but a health crisis began on January 3, 2025. Ron was hospitalized that day at UCI – Lakewood. Little did the happy couple realize that the next five months of continuous hospitalization would result in Ron’s death on June 8, 2025, passing peacefully at 1:08 in the morning. His earthly journey had ended, and heaven awaited and welcomed him home.

Authored by Karen Louise Burgess, his wife, and as he would say, his “Earth Angel.”