Obituary of Ronald Thomas Fannon

Ronald Thomas Fannon, age 78, of Benjamin Drive, Boone, passed away Thursday, October 17, 2019 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice in Winston-Salem. Ron was born on December 11, 1940, in Avery County, and spent his youth on the family farm in Beech Creek and Beech Mountain. He attended Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, getting a degree in science education, and met his future wife, Gail Poole. After marriage, they taught together in several locations, and Ron developed and wrote the first North Carolina State Environmental Education Program for high school. They returned to the Boone area to farm and pursue new careers in 1974. Ron went into Real Estate, opening his own office in 1977, and continued in that occupation until his death, spending 43 years as a Realtor in the High Country. He continued to maintain the family farm, and grew a large garden until just a few years before his death. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Ewing and Ivalee Fannon, and his wife Gail Poole Fannon. He is survived by his brother Jack Fannon, son Brian Fannon and wife Catherine, son Landon Fannon and Crystal Butler, his grandson Jacob, nieces Rebecca Lowery, Nancy Henderson, Tammy Germane, and nephews Dale Poole Jr., Rick Fannon, and Jon Fannon. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday evening, October 22, 2019 at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel. Officiating will be speaker Allen Yates. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6 until 7:30, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Private graveside services will be Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 11 o'clock at the Sparta Cemetery, Sparta, NC. Online condolences may be shared at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Fannon family.