Lt. Colonel Ronald Eugene Jumps, (Ron), (U.S. Air Force, Retired) passed away peacefully on February 10th , 2024, at the age of 80.
Ron was born on September 16th, 1943, in Danville, IL to Robert Edward and Mildred Elora Jumps.
Upon graduation from Purdue University in 1966, Ron was Commissioned as an Officer in the United States Air Force where he had a successful career spanning 20 years as a pilot traveling all over the world.
He served in the Vietnam War piloting an F100, was stationed across the United Sates, and Izmir, Turkey. During his 20- year tenure in the Air Force he served as a fighter pilot and flight instructor. He piloted aircrafts including T37, T38, F100, and F111 Aardvark.
Upon retiring from the Air Force Ron enrolled at the Law School of Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. Upon graduation he moved to Terre Haute, Indiana where he practiced law for 18 years at Cox, Gamble, and Sullivan law firm.
He was very active with the Boy Scouts of America earning distinction of the Silver Beaver Award, Vigil honors with the Order of the Arrow, and the District Award of Merit. He was the scoutmaster of Troop 344 of Izmir, Turkey, Troop 225 of Clovis, NM, and Troop 109 of Terre Haute, IN.
He was a member of Kiwanis International of Terre Haute, IN. He served as president of the club in 2003 and Lieutenant Governor for Kiwanis for the state of Indiana. He is recipient of the George Hixon Award and Col. J.L. McCulloch Award for his distinguished service.
Ron is survived by his wife Sue Jumps of fifty-nine years, his three sons, Ronald (Jamie) Jumps II of Prospect, KY, Stephen (Sandy) Jumps of Indianapolis, IN, and Kevin (Sarah) Jumps of Bentonville, AR. his two daughters, Tamara (Tim) Wagner of Venice, Fl, Deborah (Verne) Woods of Riverview, FL, his nine grandsons, four granddaughters, and one greatgranddaughter, and his niece Melody (Milton) Kelson of West Lebanon, IN. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Ralph (Joanne) Jumps of West Lebanon, IN.
Visitation will be from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 16, 2024 in Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 S. 25th Street. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 17, 2024 in the funeral home with Reverend Ron Branson officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Covington, IN with military honors.