Ronald Gordon Severs

Ronald G Severs

1931-2019

Brigadier General (Dr.) Ronald Severs, age 87, of Destin, Florida passed away on March9, 2019.  Ron was born October 31, 1931 and raised in St. Louis, Mo where he attended Froebel School and Roosevelt High School.  He received a Bachelors from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1953 and was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the US Air Force through the ROTC program. In 1954, Ronald received a BS in Medicine and earned his MD from the University of Iowa.

Dr. Severs interned at St Louis city hospital 1956-1957 where he met a nurse from Iowa, Mary Ann Christianson, who became his wife and partner for life in 1957.  Dr Severs began his surgical residency at the University of Missouri Medical Center, Columbia MO in 1957.  The Air Force called during his residency program and sent the Severs to Hahn Air Base, Germany to served as an Air Force surgeon. 

Ronald and family returned to the US in 1961, to complete his residency at West Virginia University and then became Chief Surgical resident at the University of California, Irvine.  Ronald then returned to Air Force service as a Flight Surgeon, Chief of Surgery and Hospital Commander at Selfridge Air Force Base, MI.     

In 1967, Dr Severs left active duty Air Force and joined the Air Force Reserve where he held several key positions. He grew his private practice in Warner Robins, Georgia and served as Hospital Chief of Vascular Surgery, Chief of Staff and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.  He and Mary Ann raised 3 sons in middle Georgia and Ronald enjoyed his many hobbies, including music, traveling, reading, woodworking, learning to speak German, raising German shepherds and tropical fish, and enjoying the company of many friends.

Ronald’s Air Force Reserve career continue, earning promotion to Brigadier General in 1981. He loved his Air Force service and in 1984 was selected as Command Surgeon, Air Force Reserve.  He retired from military service in 1996 and continued his service as a civilian surgeon at the Air Force hospital at Wiesbaden, Germany for a 2 year tour. 

As Ronald retired into full retirement, he just got busier cultivating his many interests.  He and Mary Ann moved to Destin, Florida where he built his dream house and put his carpentry skills and keen interest and talent in art and design to good use.   They spent a year in Kirchberg, Austria where Ronald continued his love of travel, touring through Europe, enjoying the food and culture, and practicing his German and French fluency.  

Ronald is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Ann; sons, Jim, Hugh and Jeff; 6 grandchildren, Brad Severs, Hugh Severs, Coleen Layne, Brooke Voda, Sarah Severs and Karen Severs; and 6 great-grandchildren, Jackson Severs, Liam Severs, Aidan Severs, Charlotte Severs, Amelia Voda and Elliiot Severs.  He lived a full life, accomplished much and loved by all; not bad for an only child of parents from modest means.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 17, 2019, 2:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends an hour prior to the service at Davis Watkins Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, NE, Fort Walton Beach, FL.   A military memorial will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery on March 18, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. with full military honors. 

In lieu of flowers, please support an organization in need.

To share memories, express condolences and sign the guestbook, please visit www.daviswatkins.com