Ronald Gordon Poole

Ronald Gordon Poole, 72, of High Point, was called to his eternal reward on Monday, December 21, 2020, at Wake Forest Baptist Health High Point Medical Center.

Born April 30, 1948, in Lubbock, Texas, he was the oldest son of the late Harold Poole and the late Charlene Vaughn Poole. Ron’s family relocated to Southern California when he was just two weeks old and settled in Whittier, California, a few years later, which would be home to the Poole family for over six decades.

In his youth Ron briefly worked for Southern California Edison, where his father was an electrical engineer, before studying accounting at Cal State Fullerton and then accepting a job at Campus Crusade for Christ in Arrowhead Springs, California. While at Campus Crusade, Ron processed half of payroll for the ministry, and a bright and lovely young woman named Sara processed the other half. After a brief courtship, Sara became the one Ron would for the next 49 years lovingly refer to as his “better half.” Ron and Sara moved to Whittier when their first daughter, Nikki, was two years old. Over the following few years Ron and Sara were blessed with two more daughters, Erin and Angie, and Ron had established what would become a distinguished career as a Certified Public Accountant.

Ron never met a stranger. He easily made loyal friends, especially of his clients, and of his fellow members at Whittier Hills Baptist Church (later called Redemption Hill), where he was a faithful member for decades, serving in youth ministry, music ministry, and in leadership on the deacon board. Everywhere he went, people would gravitate to Ron, who was unfailingly generous and hospitable, and had a gift for cutting right through the small talk to reach people’s hearts. Because of Ron’s openness and transparent love for others, it was common for the family table in their small home to be full to bursting with friends Ron had met in the most ordinary—yet extraordinary—of places: a children’s museum, a doctor’s office, a repair shop, or a hotel. 

Ron loved to travel, both out of enjoyment of seeing and eating his way through the world, and of participating in outdoor activities like deep sea fishing, hunting, and catching frogs and a snake to bring home as family pets. Most of all, though, Ron wanted to share with the world his deep devotion to Jesus Christ. Ron traveled extensively through North America, the Caribbean, South America, India, and Europe on short-term mission trips, and developed lasting connections with people he met wherever he went.

Ron had a lovely natural tenor voice that made him a valued member of a men’s quartet in his younger years and of church choirs throughout his life. Ron also enjoyed gardening, teasing fruit, vegetables, and a beautiful array of flowers out of the arid soil of his tiny California yard. He loved sports—baseball best of all—and was a devoted fan of the Dodgers and Angels. He enjoyed grilling, (or “barbecuing,” as Southern Californians would have it) and inherited his mother’s talent for cooking. He was well known for making a variety of cuisines, and, in true Poole fashion, way too much of absolutely everything!

Ron loved to tell corny jokes and to make up silly improvised lyrics to songs; he could often be caught red-faced and shaking in silent laughter when he knew he had made his wife or daughters to groan yet again at one of his puns or musical flights of fancy. Ron was quick to laughter, but also to tears. He was tenderhearted and felt deeply for people and would unashamedly cry at the thought of God’s faithfulness and of the people, stories, and events of life that moved him deeply.  

Ron was a profoundly intelligent man, which contributed to his success in his career working primarily for trusted private firms, most notably Wright Ford Stampe Certified Public Accountants Inc. and Miller Giangrande LLP. He earned his Masters in Taxation from Golden Gate University, and would passionately and clearly explain the intricacies of tax law to colleagues, clients, and IRS agents alike. He was also a man of unshakable principles and honesty, and his clients and colleagues knew that they could rely on his exacting work; they did not need to fear an audit where his name appeared.

Upon retirement, Ron and Sara moved to High Point, North Carolina, to be near Nikki and her family. Once in North Carolina, Ron quickly made friends and poured himself into new hobbies, including buying and overseeing the restoration of an award-winning 1950 Ford, which was the first car model he had driven in his youth. Ron and Sara also became active members of Green Street Baptist Church.

While Ron was not perfect, he always wanted to be more perfectly like Jesus Christ. He was strong-minded and strong-willed, and he was a fighter to his last breath. Ron suffered tremendously from compromised health in his last years, but he valiantly resisted the temptation to give up on life or to lose faith in God because of his pain and debility. He viewed even the most difficult of circumstances as somehow part of God’s unfailingly good will for him. In the end, his death was sudden and brought minimal suffering, for which all who love him are grateful to God, and to all of the people at Maryfield at Pennybyrn and at High Point Medical Center who contributed to his comfort and care in his final hours.

Ron is survived by his wife, Sara Lund Poole; daughters, Nikki Johnson and husband Daniel of High Point, Erin Thomasson and husband Jon of California, and Angie Bee and husband James of Missouri; brothers, Steven Poole and wife Mary of Washington, and Roger Poole and wife Lisa of California; grandchildren, Ian Johnson, Cassiana Johnson, Talia Thomasson, Elliana Thomasson, Abigail Thomasson, Theodore Thomasson, Hannah Thomasson, and Judah Bee.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 PM Monday, December 28, 2020, in the chapel of Wright Funerals-Cremations in High Point, and will be livestreamed for friends and family who cannot attend or feel safer avoiding gatherings at this time. Burial will follow in Floral Garden Park.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until 1:45 PM prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Open Door Ministries, 400 N. Centennial St., High Point, NC 27260.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.wrightfs.com.

Wright Funerals-Cremations is in charge of arrangements.