Ronald Joseph Lenart

Ronald (Ron) Lenart, of Laurel, Maryland, was born July 15, 1936, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania and died September 6, 2013. Ron graduated from McKeesport High School in 1954 and from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1959. He was immediately commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served honorably in active service until transitioning to the Army Reserves in 1961 as a 1st Lieutenant. He retired with the rank of Colonel in 1989. In 1961, he began a 34-year career of government service with the Federal Power Commission (FPC), that also included work for the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the Department of Energy. He retired from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 1995. In 1964, he married Christine Johnson of Hyattsville, MD. In 1967, they moved to their current home in Laurel, MD. He and Chris had 2 children, Mark and Cindy. Ron loved his God, his wife and his kids. He spurred his children's spiritual growth by prioritizing church attendance, discussing the Sunday lesson at lunch and by living out what he believed every day of the week. He encouraged their personal quiet time with God, motivated them to read their Bible from beginning to end several times and actively supported their church activities. Ron was a numbers guy - he taught his kids finances. He gave them a $0.25 allowance, strongly suggesting they give $.05 in the church offering, sharing with them stories of God's faithful provision for him. Fines were levied for elbows on the table or failing to wipe your mouth during a meal. As a result, his kids were frequently broke. He also encouraged their academic pursuits, rewarding them with Baskin Robbins ice cream whenever they brought home good report cards. He supported his children's athletics by taking them to many practices and attending most of their games. He traveled all over MD, DE, VA, IL, MO and NM to watch them play. He could be seen many nights out in the driveway playing H-O-R-S-E with his kids. His unique 2-hand set shot frequently defeated his more talented kids. Ron was a member of First Baptist Church, Laurel for over 30 years. He was a deacon, church treasurer, chairman of the finance committee and a Junior High and Singles Sunday School teacher. He motivated his students to read the Bible by offering financial incentives, payable on December 31 only if all the reading was completed. He taught a mid-week study on Genesis to the Singles group over a 3 year period. He earned the affectionate name of "Herb" after mispronouncing the vegetation created on the third day of creation. Many jokes were made about Adam, Eve and Herb in the Garden. To this day, he hasn't lived it down. Ron was generous...and frugal. Ron's Rent-a-Wreck was notorious, yet provided (reliable?) transportation for his kids throughout high school. Ironically, his new cars were rumored to remain in the garage for their entire first year of life! His generosity was seen in the numerous occasions in which he would loan vehicles to those in need. His generosity was also evident in his support of missions. He touched missionaries and mission organizations in Japan, Russia, Israel, Kenya, South Africa, Hungary, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan and Netherlands. He repeatedly went on mission trips to Hungary, teaching English as a second language with Word of Life. He also traveled annually to Israel, performing needed maintenance at Nazareth Hospital and was active in his support of Washington Bible College. After moving to Grace Baptist, he was on the missions committee and active in the Toolbox ministry, helping the elderly and widows. He actively supported the monthly men's breakfast and was on the committee to establish men's small groups. He was on the board of the Laurel Pregnancy Center for about 20 years, served on HOA boards and committees in Laurel and Bethany Beach, DE, and was treasurer for a local community benevolence fund. Ron was thought to have A.D.D. because he could never sit still for long, had a telephone permanently attached to his ear, went to his beloved bank every other day, and would quickly solve the daily crossword puzzle if his wife didn't get to it first. When he saw a need, he was quick to meet it if he could. He will be missed by many locally and internationally. Ron was the faithful husband to Chris for almost 50 years, and is survived by his son, Mark Lenart and wife, Becky; his daughter, Cindy Lenart; 4 grandchildren, Nathan, Matthew, Sarah, and Andrew; brother Duane Lenart of Vinton, VA, and sister Eileen Lenart of McKeesport, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a Memorial Donation (left panel).