RONALD KEITH FAULKNER

By Editor | January 22, 2025

Ronald Keith Faulkner, 85, of Harris, Missouri, passed over into heaven on Sunday, January 19, 2025 in Princeton, Missouri.

Ronald, known also as Ron or Ronnie, was born on December 3, 1939 to Alberta (Johnson) Faulkner and Samuel Eldridge Faulkner. He attended a country school in Harris before attending and graduating from Princeton High School in 1957. Ronald attended the University of Missouri for two years, and he then came to work on the family farm.

On September 27, 1963, Ronald was united in marriage to Wilma Lorene Francis. Their marriage of 61 years was filled with love, faith, and devotion as they raised four sons together on the family farm. Ronnie and Lorene also cared for an array of animals over the years, including dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep, pigs— and even the occasional raccoon.

Ronnie spent his life on the family farm, where he was a good steward of the land that he loved. Through the farm, other business ventures came, including Grade A Dairy and Faulkner Logging. He spent many decades working alongside his sons, leaving a legacy of hard work and perseverance. A skilled woodworker, he used his talents to build many features of the family home and create cherished heirlooms for his children and grandchildren.

His faith and relationship with Christ was a guiding force in Ron’s life and a constant source of joy for him. In his youth, he was baptized at Newtown Baptist Church. Ron was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Princeton, Missouri. During the construction of the current New Hope building, he was happy to spend a great deal of time contributing to the building project with others. For over 40 years, Ron taught a Sunday School class and thoroughly enjoyed every one. Attending church was his favorite thing to do.

In addition to his involvement with church, Ronnie loved following around his children and grandchildren. Over the years, he helped with 4H and spent many days hunting with his boys (though he especially enjoyed pheasant and quail hunting). Ronnie rarely missed an event in which his grandchildren participated, where he was often one of their biggest fans. From ball games to performances to award ceremonies and competitions, he was there. There was no one in the stands prouder of their kids than Ronnie Faulkner. He was also an avid, lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, attending games with his children and grandchildren over the years. He loved the sport of baseball, and he’d walk all the way into town as a kid whenever there was a chance to play.

Ronald was preceded in death by his son, Ronald Kris Faulkner; parents, Alberta and Samuel Faulkner; mother-in-law, Wilma Bryan Francis, and father-in-law, Dean Francis; and brother-in-law, Mike Weaver.

He is survived by his wife, Lorene (or “Mom”, as he always called her); sons, Kelly Faulkner of Princeton, Missouri, Kurt (Kristi) Faulkner of Harris, Missouri, daughter-in-law, Jeanie Faulkner, of Newtown, Missouri, and Doug (Teresa) Faulkner of Bethany, Missouri; grandchildren, Rebecca Duff, Ethan (Jayci) and Brody Faulkner, Rebecca Gruwell, Madison (Ridge) Downard, Allison (Ismael) Garcia, and Tristen Faulkner, Alison (Dillon) Lowrey, Brant (Rylan) Faulkner, and Mallorie and Maggie Nighthart; great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Lincoln, Wilder, Banks, Lydia, Fenna, Royal, Emmy, Sage, and Bo; and many nieces and nephews.

Ronnie’s legacy of faith, love, and hard work lives on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 22 at the New Hope Baptist Church, Princeton, MO under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Princeton, MO. Burial will follow in Harris Cemetery, Harris, MO. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Wednesday at the church.

Memorials may be made to the Harris Cemetery and/or New Hope Baptist Church in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 316, Princeton, MO 64673. Online condolences may be left at www. robersonfuneralhome.com.

Posted in Obituaries