Ronald Cloete

Ronald Matthew Cloete
February 18, 1929 - December 28, 2011

Ronald Matthew "Ronnie" Cloete, 82, of Cape Town, South Africa, passed away at a Waco hospital Wednesday, December 28, 2011. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, December 31, at OakCrest Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James Jackson officiating. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, December 30, 2011 at the OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Boulevard, Waco.

Ronnie was born February 18, 1929 in South Africa, the second oldest of nine children of Jacob Frank William Cloete and Johanna Elizabeth Sarah Cloete.

At the age of 15, Ronnie began working at the BMD Knitting Mills, retiring in 1995 as the plant manager at age 65. He has lived in Waco since 2007, and was a member of the Elizabeth Chapel in Landsdown, S.A., and New Hope Baptist Church in Elm Mott.

He was active in the Dove Club Charitable Organization, board member of Douglas Murray Old Age Home, a councilman, church steward, member of Wheatfield Bowling Club, and Fairways Dart Club.

He was married March 27, 1954 in Cape Town to Georgina Abrahamse.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Georgina; and three brothers, Errol, Arnold, and Edward Cloete; and two sisters, Daphnie Riddles and Rhoda Van de Heyde.

Ronnie leaves behind his daughter, Dawn Cloete Eckles; significant son, Tyrone Robinson; granddaughters, Carrie and Christina Eckles; brother, Frank Cloete and wife Rita; two sisters, Alice Cooper and Charmaine Vanderlinder; sister-in-law, Bertha Chandley; a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and dear friends in Cape Town, South Africa and in the United States.

The family extends a special thanks to Providence Medical Center; Providence Hospice; Shirley Cashaw (mother); EOAC Head Start; and family and friends who have loved and supported us during this time.