Rondo Prock, 91
Rondo Prock, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away on Feb. 28, 2012, just a little short of his 92nd birthday. He was born on March 11, 1920 in Souder, Mo., the oldest son of Granville and Mabel Gardner Prock. He graduated from Gainesville High School and attended Southwest Missouri State University.
On June 16, 1941, he married the love of his life, Virginia Rennaker, and they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last summer. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ava.
With a lifelong love of horses instilled by his father, he grew up riding, and passed that love on to his daughter and grandsons for whom he always found a good pony or horse to ride. Involved in the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breeders Association, he served as secretary, vice-president, a member of the board of directors, and was the announcer for their first show and continued for over 30 years. He also judged horse shows in California, Texas, Wyoming and the East Coast.
He was president of the Ava Saddle Club, and the Saddle Club Drill Team. His favorite pastime was trail riding all over Missouri and in Colorado and Montana. Nothing was more fun for him than rounding up cattle on his farm.
Self-employed since the end of World War II, he owned several businesses in Ava with his wife, Virginia throughout the years. Always honest and fair, he treated everyone well and with a smile. A man of character, his influence is continually felt. His grandsons have often been overheard wondering what would grandpa do in a particular situation. He loved to get up early and work hard so he would have some time to play. No one loved the Ozarks more, and it was the perfect place to go fishing, bird hunting, camping, or horseback riding. He thought Ava was one of the best parts of the country and never wanted to live any other place. His joy of life was an inspiration, and he remarked many times about what a good life he had lived.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia Prock of Ava; his daughter, Connie and her husband, Armand Chaput of Austin, Texas; his two grandsons, Todd Newton and Cory Newton, of Austin, Texas; his brother, Herman Prock of Ava; three sisters and their husbands, Noreen and Merl Nay of Hutchinson, Kan., Gratie and Carl Shinpaugh, Houston, Texas, and Norma and Jess Harris, Wichita, Kan. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Granville and Mabel Prock; brother, Merl Prock; and sisters Wilma Lowe and Barbara Lauf.
Funeral Services for Rondo will be held Saturday at 10 a.m., March 3, at the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Ava, Mo., with burial in the Ava Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home. Officiating will be Pastor Tom Maples.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Gideon’s International.
Online condolences may be made at www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.
