Ronald Wesley Coss

Ronald Wesley Coss of Santa Fe died on Sunday August 5, 2018.  Ron was born August 4, 1931 in Granite City, Illinois.  Ron was preceded in death by his wife Mildred (Millie) Coss and his parents John Coss and Gwenithy Evans Coss. 

He met the love of his life, Millie, in college at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.  They were married June 20, 1953.  Ron and Millie decided to leave the wetness and industry of southern Illinois for the beauty and dryness of the southwest.  Ron got a job teaching at Santa Fe High in 1959.   They fell in love with Santa Fe and raised 5 children here.

Ron taught six years at Santa Fe High, developing a passion for justice and equity in public education.   After going to graduate school to study education administration and equity issues in New Mexico public education, Ron entered into the political world as staff to the New Mexico State Legislature’s Education Study Committee.   Ron helped to write and pass landmark legislation for public school funding equalization, for disabled education and for bi-lingual education.  He finished a career in public service working as an administrator in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (Education Department) and the Department of Health.

Ron loved the mountains and rural areas of New Mexico and made sure his family explored the state with him.  His fishing buddies, Jim Sena, Gordon Getz, Bob Wood and John Jimenez got out for many great fishing trips in the local mountains.  After retirement, Ron and Millie spent many happy years exploring the country together in an RV and travelling abroad.  At his 50th wedding celebration, there were many wonderful heart felt speeches of what Millie and Ron had meant in so many people’s lives.  A recurring theme was the unconditional love and acceptance felt by their children and grandchildren.

Ron is survived by son David and wife Carol Rose, John, Daniel and wife Grace, Gwen and husband Jay Wheeler and James and wife Ximena.  Ron also has fifteen grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren.  He loved every one of them.

His brother-in-law, Robert Schmitt and wife Sandy, brother-in-law Tom Schmitt, sister-in-law Sandy and husband Robert, and many loving nieces and nephews also survive Ron. 

Funeral services will be held at Berardinelli Mortuary August 17, 2018 at 9 am with burial at Rosario Cemetery after the service.  A celebration of Ron’s life will be held from 12 pm until 3 pm at the Santa Fe Women’s Club.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation. https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate

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