Ronald P. Farrar Obituary (1943 - 2024)

Ronald Payne Farrar was born in Houston, Texas on September 5, 1943 and passed away on April 8, 2024 in Flanagan, IL. He attended Stephen F. Austin High School and was a member of the R.O.T.C. precision drill team which won multiple competitions including the Texas State Championship. After high school he went to work at Houston Belt and Terminal as a freight coordinator for the railroad. In 1967 he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to assist his friend from Lenox bar-b-que to start the Longhorn chain. They successfully opened 3 locations until the economy slowed, at which time their partnership ended and Ron started working at Hughes Airwest airlines which was later bought out by Republic in 1980, by Northwest in 1986 and then Delta airlines in 2008. After Ron retired from the airline industry, he met the love of his life, Diane Peterson near his home in the Charleston Nevada mountains. They loaded their horses and cats and moved to Pontiac, Illinois, to live near her daughter and grandchildren. After arriving, they were married on November 9, 2012. This was Ron’s first marriage, he said she was the only one that loved him enough to put up with him. She was a great lady that opened her heart to everyone she met. She owned a successful yoga studio, which she operated until her passing on September 12, 2020. Ron had been living in Flanagan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center prior to his passing. Ron is survived by one brother still living in Houston, and Diane’s daughter Dawn (David) Hanson of Pontiac, IL and her children and grandchildren. Cremation rites will be accorded and a private family inurnment will be held at a later date in Texas. Calvert and Martin Funeral Home, Pontiac is handling the arrangements. Memorials in Ronald’s name may be made to Livingston County Humane Society. This obituary may be viewed and guestbooks signed at www.calvertmemorial.com or visit us on Facebook.