Ronald Augustus

Witherspoon, Sr.

Dr. Ronald (Ron) A. Witherspoon, Sr., 70, of Glen Allen, entered eternal rest on January 5, 2023. He was born on May 4, 1952 in Richmond, Virginia to the late Eugene I. Witherspoon, Sr. and Delores Starkes Witherspoon. Ron accepted Christ at an early age at Triumphant Baptist Church.

He was educated in the Richmond Public School System, graduating from Armstrong High School in 1970. He went on to attend Virginia Union University where he majored in Business. Ron was awarded an honorary doctorate of Music Ministry from the Richmond Virginia Seminary founded by Dr. Benjamin W. Robertson, Sr.

Ron was employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia for 36 years before retiring in 2022. His last 32 years of State Service was with the Department of the Treasury. Prior to this he worked for the Department of General Services.

Ron's true passion was music and serving the Lord. He made a conscious decision to use music to glorify God and minister to God's people. He was regarded as one of the best church pianists/organists in the Richmond Metropolitan area. Ron served as Minister of Music at several churches including Great Hope Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, First Baptist Church Centralia, Amazing Grace World Fellowship where he also served as a deacon, and most recently at Bethlehem Baptist Church where the choirs included the Voices of Bethlehem, the Male Chorus, the Children's Choir, Chosen and the Young Adult Choir. In addition, he served faithfully as the organist for Scott's Funeral Home for over 20 years. Ron was a member of the Hampton University Choir Director's Organist Guild for more than 50 years, and most recently served as treasurer of the Guild. He looked forward to attending the annual conference.

Ron loved the Lord and his family more than anything else.

In addition to his parents, Ron was also preceded in death by his beloved son, Ronald A. Witherspoon, Jr. and his brother, Eugene Irving (Junnie) Witherspoon, Jr.

Ron leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, Ida Bates Witherspoon; two beloved daughters, Tiffany and Rondah Witherspoon; five grandchildren, Tiana and Davion Payne, Summer and Zane Witherspoon and Kamarih Keel; three nephews, Eugene I. Witherspoon, III (Shamalda), Charles Yeager and Christopher Bates; two nieces, Jametra Copeland and Jillian Bates; great nephew, Tayveon Witherspoon; cousins, Evelyn and Deidra Starkes and Quinton Douglas; daughter-in-law, Michelle (Missi) Witherspoon; brothers and sisters-in-law, Alfred Bates III (Pamela), Charles Bates (Vanessa) and Richard Bates (Faye); his Bethlehem Baptist Church Family, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Remains rest at Scott's Funeral Home, 115 E. Brookland Park Blvd. where viewing will be held from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Friday, January 13, 2023. Funeral services will be held 12 noon Saturday, January 14 at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 215 Wilkinson Road. Rev. Glinda Ford officiating. Interment Roselawn Memory Gardens. Family and friends are kindly asked to assemble at the church.