Ronald Winton Becton

Ronald Winton Becton, affectionately known as "Ron" Becton, was born on March 31, 1955, in Vacaville, California, at Travis Air Force Base, and passed away on June 7, 2025, in Lakeland, Florida, at the age of seventy. He was surrounded by his loving wife, their three sons, and his sister. He leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and dedication to family and friends.

Ron spent most of his childhood in Savannah, Georgia, where he lived with his mother and siblings. He also enjoyed many cherished years with his grandmother in Florida and spent meaningful time in Michigan with his father. From a young age, Ron had a deep love for athletics and was constantly active — running, playing, and participating in sports of all kinds. He attended Richard Arnold High School in Savannah, where he played football and various other sports — a passion that stayed with him throughout his life.

After high school, Ron enlisted in the United States Air Force at just seventeen years old, following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, who were also in the military. His decision reflected a strong sense of duty, family tradition, and commitment to service, as well as the deep trust and respect he had for his older brothers. Ron served four years in the Air Force, and that time helped shape his character, strengthen his work ethic, and instill the discipline that became a foundation of his life.

Shortly after leaving the military, Ron met Deronda in Savannah — just two days after she graduated from high school. They quickly became inseparable and fell deeply in love. After a courtship of about eighteen months, they were married in December 1977 at Bethel Alliance Church. Not long after their wedding, the newlyweds moved to Lakeland, Florida, where Ron enrolled at Southeastern University. While at Southeastern, he played college basketball for the school in the position of point guard and also ran cross country — continuing his lifelong passion for athletics, competition, and especially running.

Almost immediately after moving to Lakeland, Ron and Deronda began attending First Alliance Church, where they met new friends who welcomed them as family and quickly became their closest companions. They remain members of First Alliance to this day. Over the years, their involvement in the church deepened — they served as youth leaders, participated actively on the worship team, and volunteered in many areas of church life. Ron was especially proud of his time as a Sunday school teacher and as a church elder. He remained a faithful member of First Alliance Church for the rest of his life, forming lifelong friendships and bonds that deeply enriched his spiritual and personal journey.

After graduating from Southeastern, Ron and Deronda moved to Fort Myers, where they spent two memorable years. Ron taught at Fort Myers Christian School, and the couple enjoyed many carefree days on the beach — playing, relaxing, and soaking in the Florida sun. But it wasn’t long before they felt a calling to return “home” to Lakeland.

Upon returning, Ron began what would become a remarkable 33-year teaching career at Plant City High School, where he taught from 1985 until his retirement in 2018. He educated thousands of students in World History, Economics, and Government, and left a lasting impression not only as a teacher but as a mentor. While many knew him simply as “Mr. Becton,” just as many — if not more — knew him as “Coach Becton” or simply “Coach.”

As noted earlier, Ron’s passion for athletics, and especially for running, remained a central part of his life. He spent many years coaching cross country and track, guiding young athletes to reach their full potential and leading them to countless personal and team victories. In addition to coaching track and cross country, Ron also coached girls’ high school basketball and various other sports. His influence extended beyond the classroom and playing field — he also refereed basketball for more than 30 years throughout Hillsborough and Polk counties, further cementing his presence and leadership in the local sports community.

Ron was also a fierce competitor. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he actively raced in distance events ranging from one mile to three miles, regularly pushing himself to new levels of performance, while taking first place in countless races. He also competed as an amateur boxer, winning numerous bouts and earning respect in the ring. At one point, Ron even held the Lakeland record for the fastest mile — a testament to his dedication and discipline as an athlete.

As his sons began to grow up, Ron made the intentional decision to step back from personal competition and from high school coaching so he could focus more of his energy on his family. He dedicated himself to training and coaching his sons in various sports, continuing to pour his passion for athletics into their development and experiences. His love of competition never faded — it simply evolved into a love of mentorship and fatherhood.

In 1986, Ron and Deronda welcomed their first son, Benjamin. In 1988, their second son, Brycen, was born, followed by their third son, Brennan, in 1995. Ron was an extremely involved and devoted father who actively participated in all aspects of his sons’ lives — from academics to athletics — constantly encouraging them to pursue excellence in everything they did. He personally trained his sons in whatever sport they showed interest in, teaching them the fundamentals of balance, strength training, and athleticism from an early age. He coached every team he could, and if he wasn’t the official coach, he could often be found standing by the goalpost, offering his signature brand of “constructive criticism” throughout the game or match. He read to his boys regularly and made it a point to teach them something new every single day. Ron led by example, showing them what it meant to be disciplined and focused — and he was deeply loved, admired, and respected by his sons.

As Ron’s sons got older and left home, he found himself with more time to devote to the church and its various ministries. Although Ron had always been a committed witness for Christ and an active church member, the last fifteen years of his life marked a period of especially deep involvement. He participated in and often led numerous ministry programs, including Kairos Prison Ministry, In Touch Prayer Ministry, Wingman Men’s Ministry, the Board of Elders, the Sunday School program, and many others. In addition to his formal roles, Ron was known for his quiet acts of service — often visiting friends, fellow members, and those in need within the church community. His faith was not only something he believed, but something he lived out daily in word and action.

In 2012, Ron became a grandfather and quickly transitioned from “Coach” to “Pepaw.” His first five grandchildren were girls — quite the contrast to raising three sons — but Ron embraced the change with a full heart. He softened aspects of his personality to perfectly suit playtime with his granddaughters and cherished the role wholeheartedly. He spent countless days with them playing, taking them to church, babysitting, eating ice cream, sharing jokes, and simply enjoying their company. In 2022, Ron got to meet his first and only grandson, and you could see the pride he felt his name would be carried on. Ron embraced being a grandfather so completely that the entire family, including his adult children, affectionately called him “Pepaw.” He was always waiting for the next call to come spend time with his grandkids — and especially loved any chance to babysit the girls.

In his later years, Ron remained actively engaged in a variety of athletic activities, including running daily, playing tennis, basketball, and eventually shuffleboard. He discovered a new passion in competing in the Senior Games, which gave him fresh motivation and something new to train for. He often spoke with enthusiasm about his training regimen and his achievements in previous competitions, especially in basketball and tennis. Ron enjoyed the camaraderie and challenge of competing with both old and new friends, proudly returning home with medals and stories to share. In more recent years, he developed a love for shuffleboard — his final sport to master — and once again found joy in friendly competition and the relationships that came with it. Ron embraced friendly competition his entire life in the pursuit of excellence.

Ron spent his entire adult life with his Princess, Deronda. Together, they built a beautiful life, overcoming many obstacles and hardships. Before the arrival of their children they shared nine wonderful years together filled with adventures such as cross-country camping trips, countless days at the beach, leading youth group together, movie nights and date nights out, and endless laughter fueled by Ron’s sarcasm and playful personality. They raised three boys as a team and created a life for themselves and their children that was more than they ever hoped for. In their later years, they cherished time spent together and with their grandchildren. Ron loved Deronda from the day he met her and was incredibly proud to share his life with her and was truly proud of a marriage spanning 48 years.

In early 2025, Ron received a surprise cancer diagnosis. True to his character, he took the news like the champion he was — never allowing it to impact his outlook or mindset. He remained strong until the very end, using every ounce of energy he had to be present and participate in both outdoor and indoor activities with his family, especially his grandchildren, spending time with them daily during his final week. Ron passed peacefully at home, surrounded by his loved ones, still praising the Lord for all His blessings.

Ron’s life of joy, faith and achievements in all areas embodies one of his favorite sayings. As Ron was fond of saying to his sons, pupils, and athletes: “Carpe Diem” — Seize the day.

Ron was preceded in death by his mother, Billie Carter Maloy; her husband, Broaden “Moose” Maloy; his father, Cleon Belch; and his brothers, Nic Becton and Steve Wilson.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of forty-eight years, Deronda Becton; their three sons, Ben Becton (Allison), Brycen Becton (Amanda), and Brennan Becton (McKenzie); six adored grandchildren, Avalyne, Rayelynn, Anabelle, Adeline, Sutton, and Colton; his brother, Gary Belch (Ging); his sister, LaWanda Grill (Fred); and his sister-in-law, Michelle (David). He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, as well as many other beloved cousins and family members, including his much younger half-brothers, Jim and Jerry — all of whom were loved and cherished by Ron.

A visitation will be held on Friday, June 13th, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at First Alliance Church, 1919 East Edgewood Drive, Lakeland, FL 33803. The funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed immediately by a fellowship luncheon. A graveside committal will follow at Oak Hill Burial Park, 4620 US Highway 98 South, Lakeland, FL 33812.

All are welcome to attend the visitation, service, luncheon, and burial as we gather to honor and celebrate Ron’s life.