Retired Covenant pastor Ronald K. Short died May 11, 2023, in eastern Virginia. He was 83.
Ronald K. Short was born on June 10, 1939, to parents Hiram and Bessie Short in Oneida, New York. After graduating from Camden Central High School in 1955, he attended the Teachers’ College at the State University of New York at Albany, where he graduated with his AB in social studies and English in 1959 and his MA in social studies education in 1960.
Ronald began his career in education, working as a public-school teacher and department chair at various school districts in New York, Florida, and North Carolina. During this time, he met Doris Dale, and they married on July 15, 1972. Ronald transitioned into the role of principal at a Christian high school in Syracuse,
New York, in 1982.
After serving in education for over two decades, he began to feel a call to ministry. He was approached about a newly created role of minister of Christian education at Redeemer Evangelical Covenant Church in Liverpool, New York, to which he was called in 1985. While serving in this role, he was commissioned and received his ministerial license. He later transitioned to the role of youth pastor at the same congregation.
Ronald remained an active member his community while serving at Redeemer Evangelical Covenant. He served as the developer and organizer for the Syracuse Area Christian Student Leadership Conference, as well as the founder and first president of the Syracuse Area Youth Pastors group. He was also actively involved with the YMCA.
Ronald was preceded in death by his son Christopher in 1979. He is survived by his wife, Doris; two children, Scott Short (Tasha) and Kathleen “Katie” Samuel (Brandon); and five grandchildren.
Internment occurred on July 8 at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Camden, New York. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Youth Ministry of the Chapel, the church he attended in Midlothian, Virginia.
Peace be to his memory.
