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MCCONNELL -- Ronald McConnell passed into the presence of his Lord, whom he served and proclaimed in his 55 years of ministry, on May 23, 2011 after a bout with cancer. He was surrounded by his wife of 50 years, Marjorie, and their children, Kelly, Mark and Peter. Ron was born in Fort Worth, TX on February 2, 1932 to E. Albert and Maude O'Toole McConnell. He attended public schools in Fort Worth and graduated from Florida State University, Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary and Indiana Church of God Seminary. He and Marjorie Jane Hassler of Tacoma, WA were married on June 13, 1961 in Dallas while he was an Air Force Chaplain at Biloxi AFB, MS and soon after they were deployed to Prestwick AFB in Scotland. While in Scotland, their daughter, Kelly, was born and Ron completed a PhD in Biblical Philosophy at the University of Glasgow. Upon returning to the USA, Ron continued in the Air Force Reserve and was pastor of the Boulevard Assembly in Waco, TX. During this period, sons, Mark and Peter were born. In 1969 the family moved to Sandia Park, NM, where they purchased property and built a home in the mountains. While building homes for others in the area, Ron began to gather together people who were excited about his vision to unite those of diverse backgrounds under the lordship of Jesus Christ and in the dynamic of the Holy Spirit. The group began meeting in the bank building at Wyoming and Menaul NE in Albuquerque, but grew so rapidly that they rented the Church of the Good Shepherd on Juan Tabo NE. Soon thereafter, the by then Christian Center congregation, needed to expand again and purchased the Church of Christ on Candelaria NE. Within two years the congregation had outgrown this facility, so, under Ron McConnell's leadership, purchased land at I-40 and Juan Tabo NE and built a large new church facility. With the new facility and multiple staff the congregation grew to 1600 in attendance and became known nationally as an influential church. Ron McConnell also was involved in international travel with Dr. David DuPlesis and John 17:21 Ministry which promoted his passion for unity of all Christians. At this time he felt the need for a new ordination and was ordained a priest in The Episcopal Church, Diocese of the Rio Grande. Ron departed in 1981 to become the Development Director for a new Christian TV station in the San Francisco Bay area. During his absence, the attendance at Christian Center dwindled, so in 1985 Ron returned as the senior pastor. Soon thereafter the name was changed to Trinity Church and the decision made to affiliate with the Episcopal Church, Diocese of the Rio Grande, under the leadership of Bishop Terence Kelshaw. During the next several years Bishop Kelshaw asked Ron to serve as Interim Rector at the Cathedral of St. Clements in El Paso for two years and at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Las Cruces, during which Ron and Marge made numerous new friends. He was then appointed by Bishop Kelshaw as Canon Theologian for the Diocese of the Rio Grande. Trinity Church has continued as Trinity in the Marketplace under the able leadership of Michael Kelshaw, son of Bishop Kelshaw. In 2007 Ron and Marge retired to his boyhood home of Fort Worth to be near relatives. In 2010 he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, cancer of the bone morrow, and they moved to a winter home in Goodyear, AZ to be convenient for treatment at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. Ron is survived by his wife, Marjorie, daughter, Kelly, sons, Mark and Peter, son-in-law Monte Castillo and grandsons, Matthew and Bryan. He is also revered and loved by many who have been involved in his years of meaningful ministry. A memorial service in his honor will be held at East Gate Church, the former Christian Center, 12120 Copper NE, Albuquerque, NM 87123 at 1:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 31, 2011. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to Happy Hill Farm Academy, 3846 Highway 144, Granbury, TX 77048, (254) 897-4822 or www.happyhillfarm.org. Please visit Facebook memorial web page. View photos, hear old sermons, read select writings, etc. Search "Ron McConnell Memorial Page" in Facebook.
        Published on: Sun May 29, 2011