Final Salute

Ronald Paul Becker was born in Lafayette, Indiana to Vivian J Miller and George A Becker. His parents loved the great outdoors, imparting in Ronnie the appreciation of nature. He grew up camping and fishing on the Tippecanoe River. He spent many hours in his life tying flies for his fishing hobby, and in his later years he loved salmon fishing in Michigan with his son-in-law Andy, grandson Zach, and son Clark.
As a young man of 17, his Mom had to sign him up so he could enter the Navy. He went to California for training, and then over the next three years he traveled to Kwajalein, Guam, Japan, and Korea as a proud Seabee. He took up and became quite good at leather crafting and photography while in the Navy. While on Kwajalein Atoll, he witnessed the atomic testing of the thermonuclear bomb called Castle Bravo, at that time the most powerful ever detonated by the U.S.
In 1955, he came home from his first Navy experience and spent a few years working for his Uncle Paul Becker, building homes in the Lafayette area, and he also worked as a jack of all trades at TV18. It was there where he met his wife of 51 years, Barbara A Zellers. He re-enlisted in the Navy in 1958, and was stationed in Puerto Rico. In 1959, he and Barb were married at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. After his first child came along in 1962, he left the Navy to begin raising his family of what would become five children.
Ron was a proud member of the Local Carpenters Union and can say he had the privilege of building his own home, not to mention a sail boat and “cabin cruiser” boat with his buddy. It was a family affair, putting the boat in on Lake Freeman. There was nothing he could not build or repair, and that includes working on the Lafayette Courthouse restoration to name just one of many local projects. He even built a camper that, with his kids riding in the back, he drove all the way to Corvallis, Oregon in 1976 to visit old friends.
Beginning in the 1980’s, he and Barb spent countless volunteer hours traveling around the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, and France with the Tippecanoe Ancient Fife and Drum Corps. Ron, Barb, and all of their children were involved in the hobby of historical reenactment. With the corps., Ron and Barb put many miles on Ron’s old blue Ford truck with his handmade camper topper, trailer in tow.
His family will have fond memories of the gardens he built and nurtured, as well as the pies he would bake. There wasn’t much Ron couldn’t do.
Ron was a gentle man who loved his family. Having them around him was a constant joy to him. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren always made him laugh and smile.
He is survived by daughter Deidre (Malcolm) Duncan; son Gregory (Monique); daughter Anita (Andrew) Callender; daughter Cecelia (Robert J) McAllister; and son Clark Becker. Also surviving are grandchildren Zachary Duncan, Alexa Rush (Todd), Adrienne Callender (Julia), and Jacob Callender (Vanessa); Isabelle, Shanley, and Hallie McAllister, and Vincent Becker. Ron also had 9 great-grandchildren: Paige, Oliver, Milo, and Tilly; Addilyn and Elijah, Jacobi, Julian, and Ryan; as well as many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister Claudia (Douglas) Bell; His parents, wife, and older sister Diane Koval pre-deceased him.
Family and friends may visit from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Saturday November 16th, 2024 at Tippecanoe Funeral Chapel.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday November 16th, 2024, at Tippecanoe Funeral Chapel, 3631 Morehouse Road, West Lafayette, Indiana. Burial will follow.
In honor of Ron, you may donate to the Marine Corps. Heritage Foundation.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy can be left for Ronald’s family at https://tippecanoememorygardens.com/obituaries-list/
Please note: Morehouse Road is currently closed. For those attending the services, please use Kalberer Road to access Tippecanoe Funeral Chapel. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to safely welcoming you.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ronald, please visit our floral store.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.