Ron Woolever spent most of his adult life on earth seeking how to know and love the God who created and saved him; then dedicated his life to helping others in their desire to do the same. On August 14, 2026, at the age of 88, he had the joy of meeting his beloved Jesus face to face.

Ronald Davis Woolever was born November 20, 1937 in Amarillo, Texas to Ronald and Opal Woolever. He graduated from Slaton High School in 1955. He then served in the U.S. Army from 1956 until 1962, in the Army Security Agency (later called the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command). He served as a Russian interpreter while stationed in Germany, and later in Vietnam as part of an advance intelligence gathering team.

Ron attended the University of Texas at Austin and became a lifelong avid fan of the Texas Longhorns. In the early 70’s, Ron realized God was calling him to Christian ministry. He took seminary courses at TCU’s Brite Divinity School and began his career as a pastor at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Hempstead, Texas in 1975. He later pastored Community Christian Church in San Antonio.

Ron married his beloved wife, Tonia in 1981, who, under Ron’s teaching and guidance, grew into her own calling to be a Bible teacher and minister. Ron and Tonia began their ministry life together serving First Christian Church in Portland, Texas from 1982 to 1986.

Wherever Ron pastored, he taught his leaders and congregants to be completely involved in their communities through working in ecumenical church alliances, with local benevolence ministries, and hosting local groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Ron believed the Church should meet people where they were at, help them go beyond religious activity to where, as he liked to say, they could become all God had created them to be. During his time in the Texas Coastal Bend Ron served as a Chaplain of the Corpus Christi Chemical Dependency Unit, working with people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction; and served as President of the Coastal Bend Council on Alcoholism in 1985.

Ron then served as pastor in Iowa for four years, then in Pennsylvania for three years, during which he felt constrained by pastoring single congregations, increasingly desiring to work with all kinds of churches, mentor pastors and their wives, help train church leaders to reach their communities. This led to a move to the Fort Worth, Texas area in 1994, where Ron established Shammah Ministries — so named for the Hebrew word meaning “God is present” — as a way to fulfill his desire to be a resource to pastors and church leaders. 

Ron served a year on the staff of Son Shine Ministries in Azle, Texas, training their missionary class of 1994-95. After this Ron and Tonia began traveling across the U.S. and abroad working with churches of all kinds for nearly 30 years, a ministry he thoroughly loved and pursued even after they relocated to the Texas Coastal Bend in 2013. Ron retired due to health issues in 2025.

Over the years, Ron mentored men who sought help in their Christian walk, being godly husbands and leaders of their families. He met with them regularly on his front porch or dining table to study, talk and pray, a practice he continued by phone with some even to the time until he passed into heaven. These men became like extended family.

Ron teamed with other ministers to do mission work in Mexico, Ukraine, and Zambia, Africa. In Africa he began a mentoring relationship with a pastor whose church was struggling to feed and care for the many orphans in their poor community. This led to a partnership in 2000 that is ongoing to this day, continued by Shammah Ministries under Tonia’s care, raising funds and sending them to support the Zambia Orphan Project, including building a feeding center and school for them in 2004. Ron took great joy in being able to make a difference in the lives of those children.

Ron always saw himself as a very flawed human, deeply grateful for the forgiveness and grace that came through Jesus Christ. He wanted everyone to experience that. He developed many teachings over the years which he freely shared with pastors, of which his favorite was an extensive study on how to lean into all the ways of experiencing God’s Grace.

Ron loved college football season, so he could watch his Texas Longhorns. He was also a fan of Star Trek, Westerns, and WWE Wrestling. He enjoyed playing racquetball, cribbage and dominoes, and grilling food on his deck for friends. He loved camping and road trips and the adventure of experiencing other countries and cultures. Ron loved people and never met a stranger. He loved going on movie dates with his wife and celebrating birthdays with family and friends.

Ron is survived by his wife of 44 years, Tonia Woolever; son Shawn Southern and wife Diana; daughters Mari West and Gabriele Dumpys Woolever; grandchildren Christian Schulte and wife Rachel; Sydney Woolever, Jeremy W. Woolever, Ashleigh West, Katie Woolever, and Jeremy Woolever; brother Shawn G. Woolever; and sister, Judi Braun. Ron is preceded in death by his son, Michael Woolever; his parents, Ronald and Opal Woolever; and his sister, Cherie Woolever.

Services:

A Memorial Service will be held at First Christian Church in Aransas Pass, Texas, 337 W. Nelson Avenue, on Saturday, September 5 at 11:00 a.m.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Azle, Texas at 1155 Scotland Avenue, on Sunday, September 27, at 3:00 p.m. Look for the renovated barn / event center.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ron Woolever may be made to Shammah Ministries (designated “Zambia Orphan Project”); 1346 Oak Park Drive, Aransas Pass, TX, 78336.

Guestbook available online at www.resthavenfunerals.com.

Arrangements and care are entrusted to Resthaven Funeral Home, Aransas Pass.