William Rich

Memorial services for William "Ron" Rich, 51, of Junction City will be 10 a.m., Saturday, April 5, 2008 at the First Southern Baptist Church with Pastor Nate Butler officiating. Inurnment will follow at Highland Cemetery. A visitation is planned for Friday, April 4, 2008, 6-8 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel, 203 N. Washington Street. Mr. Rich passed away at his residence on March 29, 2008. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorials be given to Geary Community Healthcare and Hospice, P.O. Box 3015, Junction City, KS 66441 and/or Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, in c/o JCPD, 210 E. 9th Street, Junction City, KS 66441.

Ron was born December 1, 1956, Rutherfordton, NC to Nona Faye (Taylor) Rich. Ron moved to Junction City with his family in 1973 graduating from Junction City High School in 1975. He then moved to Point Lookout, MO and attended the College of the Ozarks receiving his Bachelor's Degree majoring in History and in Criminology with a minor in Sociology. He was a member of Delta Kappa Omicron, Phi Alpha Theta, Student Senate and was Smith Dorm President, graduating in May of 1979.

Following college he attended the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in August of 1980 receiving his Law Enforcement Certification in October 1980. Ron started as a Patrol Officer with the Junction City Police Department in 1980, in 1982 he was assigned as a Patrol Detective, in 1985 he was promoted to Operations Sergeant, in 1999 he was promoted to Operations Lieutenant and in 2002 he was promoted to Captain of the Community Involvement Unit as well as becoming certified as a School Resource Officer. In 2003 & 2004 he completed the Multi-Hazard Safety Program for Schools and the SRO Leadership Program and before retiring in 2006 he was assigned to work on accreditation and general orders. Following his retirement he worked for USD 475.

He married Marsha Ann (Roberts) on March 30, 1990, Junction City, KS she survives of the home.

Other survivors include his mother and step-father, Nona and Larry Decker of Milford, KS, step-son, Christopher Hall of Fort Rucker, AL, step-daughter, Amanda Hall of Junction City, KS, two brothers, Nelson Scott Rich and partner Joseph Nisil of Junction City, KS and John Mark Rich and wife Jennifer also of Junction City, KS, two grandsons, Jeffrey Wallace and Christopher Hall, Jr. and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his step-father, Frederick Carl Bucknam in 1980 and his beloved grandparents.