Ronald “Ron” Reese, an 86-year-old resident at Morning Pointe of Lenoir City, Tennessee, Assisted Living, will tell you right off the bat: “First and foremost, I’m a Christian. I surrendered my life to Jesus at age 22.” Throughout Ron’s life, God has used him to bless thousands of others – family, military and community.
In the Navy
Ron enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy with an unusual goal. “I wanted to design and maintain ships,” Ron said. “I didn’t aspire to command, as most of the men did.”
After four years in the Naval Academy, Ron served as chief engineer on destroyers for two years. He went on to five years of grad school and completed his formal education with a PhD in ocean engineering.
Over Ron’s 20 years of commissioned service, he worked at the Naval Ship Engineering Center and was deployed many times to locations all over the world, including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and South America.
Ron considers his favorite port to be Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “There was so much to see there, and the beaches were beautiful,” he explained.
Family
One night in Virginia Beach, Ron met Ann. She was home from college for the summer and was helping with a dance for midshipmen the next evening. “They paired up the local girls with the midshipmen,” Ron explained. “I saw a good-looking girl across the room, and I wasn’t going to get beat out this time. After that, I danced with her for the rest of our lives.”
Ron and Ann married in 1960 and went on to have two children, David and Carol. Their family now includes five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
When they married, they made two big decisions together: Ron would not drink, and Ann would be a stay-at-home mom. “We didn’t go on expensive vacations, but we have two children who know Christ,” Ron said.
When Ron shipped out from Norfolk, Virginia, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was thinking primarily about his family. He was concerned that if nuclear war broke out, the military base at Norfolk would be targeted. “I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see my wife and 9-month-old baby again,” he remembered.
Later Naval Experience and Post-Navy Career
Ron worked with nuclear cruisers, aircraft carriers and nuclear subs for four years as an engineer, and he gained the respect of his superiors. He was asked to be the editor of a shipbuilding guide, as well as to put together a qualification program for Naval engineering officers.
He was excited to have the opportunity to fulfill his dream of designing ships, with more than 130 designs going through his hands while he was there.
After retiring from the Navy as a Commander, Ron continued to serve in a civilian capacity. He worked for a company that contracted with the Navy in research and development. “I got into submarine survivability work, to test and evaluate what would happen if a sub got hit.” He is very proud that his work has helped protect the lives of the submarine crew members.
Serving the Community
Ron and Ann have always been faithful church members. Ron was a deacon and a Sunday school teacher for many years. And although he started out believing in evolution, he became convinced that God created the universe in six days. He took his science background and conviction and presented at several creationist conferences.
Beyond that, Ann volunteered at a small crisis pregnancy center in Virginia. When the director of the center married and moved away, the organization struggled. Ann was asked to serve on the board of directors, but she said they should ask her husband – he had years of administrative experience.
Ron spent six years on the board of directors for the center, including as board president. Under his leadership, the board helped the organization thrive again.
Coming to Morning Pointe
In Virginia, the Reeses lived in a three-level house, which was not sustainable as they got older. They followed their daughter and son-in-law a few times, and the family settled in Lenoir City, Tennessee, in July 2024.
Ann’s health was declining, and she is in a wheelchair. Maintaining a house and assisting his wife was more than Ron could handle, so they knew it was time to find an assisted living community. They chose Morning Pointe of Lenoir City, which was close to family.
“It was a smart move,” Ron said. “Ann is being well taken care of now. Our needs are met, and this is a good place.” He advised other seniors who are considering assisted living, “Don’t wait too long. Do it as a couple if you can.”
His favorite activity at the community by far is leading devotions weekly for his fellow residents. “That gives me a mission for living here,” he said.
When we asked Ron what he is most proud of in his life, he shared, “I am most proud of my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and that I know Christ. I have joy in serving the Lord.”
