RONALD H WOODCOCK

Beloved community leader, pastor, justice advocate, father, husband, and friend, Ronald Henry Woodcock transitioned into glory and entered eternal life, Monday, July 14, 2025.

Ron was born October 7, 1943, to delighted parents, Robert Henry Woodcock and Audrey Lee Woodcock. Ron was the first born and soon the Woodcock family welcomed Ron’s four siblings: Michael Ray, Robert Keith, Sharon Janelle, and Beverly Jean. Ron grew up in Corpus Christi where he loved the sunshine and above all the people. Starting at an early age Ron showed himself to be a great friend, an athlete, and a leader. Ron attended Miller High School and was a member of the Miller Buccaneers Class 4 A Football Team, a star baseball pitcher, and student body President. Ron’s experience at Miller High School was formational as it was the first integrated high school football teams to win a state championship. Ron’s hero, Head Coach Pete Ragus, pushed for civil rights and took the Corpus Christi Miller Buccaneers comprised of Anglo, Hispanic, and Black players to win the state championship of 1960. Ron said that Coach Ragus made their team a family. It was this experience of forging friendships with people from different backgrounds that fueled his lifelong passion for racial and economic justice and community building. Even up to the last year of life, Ron continued to be a leader as he kept in close touch with classmates, coaches, teachers, and friends.

After High School, Ron went on to further his education and was a graduate of Southwestern Assemblies of God Seminary in Waxahachie, Texas and Bright Divinity School at Texas Christian University.

In the late 1960s Ron helped establish the first Teen Challenge in Texas in San Antonio with his dear friend and ministry partner, Irvin Rutherford. When Irvin went overseas, Ron ran the Teen Challenge ministry for five years. During this time, he witnessed the lives of many youth transformed by the love of Jesus.

Ron soon returned to his home of Corpus Christi where he worked alongside his parents for over 20 years in their successful business, Woodcock Home Improvement. During this time, Ron became the proud father of Robert Michael Woodcock, Preston Woodcock, and Tamela Woodcock whom he shared with his then wife, the late Joy Woodcock.

In 1998, Ron had a decision to take over his family’s successful business or return to full time ministry. Ministry called. During this year, Ron married the love of his life, Theresa Pena Woodcock, gained three beloved stepchildren, Cassandra Leigh Pena, Brian Michael Pena, and Kyle Grothues and moved to Bethel, Missouri to work with Heartland Ministries, which provides homes of restoration for people in need. After two and a half years, Ron and his family moved to Kansas City, Missouri where he began working with Global Ministry Teams, an international mission’s ministry, spreading the love of Jesus around the world, founded by Irvin Rutherford.

In 2002, the Woodcocks returned to Texas. Ron, along with his wife Theresa, dedicated the final decades of his life to serve the community of Dallas, especially those underserved. Ron began to gather leaders in the city who longed to see all people treated with dignity, love, justice, and respect. Ron’s passion was to see all people in our region have equal opportunities to flourish. Ron was the catalyst for a movement of people dedicated to this work in the name of Jesus which became The Greater Dallas Coalition whose motto is “from many, ONE.” During this time Ron also co-founded The Dallas Champions Academy which has served thousands of young people in South Dallas and placed over 200 students in college.

As the Chairman of the Greater Dallas Coalition, highlighted, “Ron was more than a colleague; he was a force for good, a relentless advocate for the marginalized, a defender of the homeless, a voice for the voiceless, and a tireless servant to the least and the lost. He can be described as a reinforcement agent for community revitalization, standing in the gap and championing causes others overlooked. Ron has brought many together through his shepherd heart. Ron's absence leaves a significant void not only in our coalition but across the city and the great state of Texas. We rejoice in knowing that he now rests in the eternal peace of his long-awaited home in glory being eternally with Jesus whom he emulated with unconditional love for others.”

Ron will be sorely missed but his legacy lives on through the countless lives he impacted for good. Rest in peace good and faithful servant of God.

A memorial service for Ronald Henry Woodcock will be held at 11:00 AM at True Lee Missionary Baptist Church, 3907 Robert L. Parish Sr. Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75210.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation to the Greater Dallas Coalition in memory of Ron Woodcock. https://www.greaterdallascoalition.net/