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Ronnie D. “Coach A” Abegglen

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Ronnie D. “Coach A” Abegglen

Birth
Vernal, Uintah County, Utah, USA
Death
19 Dec 2018 (aged 81)
Burial
Vernal, Uintah County, Utah, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Ron Abegglen, ‘Coach A’, died Dec. 19, 2018. Ron was born on Aug. 19, 1937, to Larry Abegglen and Wilma ‘Peggy’ Thompson Abegglen. Ron married LaRae Young on Apr. 3, 1956. He later married Nedra Blackham Nelson on Mar. 25, 1986.

Ron was a native of Vernal, Utah, where he graduated from Uintah High School. After high school, he went on to BYU where he had a four-year career playing basketball for the Cougars. He began his legendary career as a basketball coach first at Morgan High School where he spent thirteen seasons as head coach. After Morgan, Ron spent the next ten seasons coaching the Snow College Badgers in Ephraim. He then left Utah for the Anchorage, Alaska Seawolves first as an assistant coach, then as head coach. In 1991, Ron came back to Utah as head coach of the Weber State Wildcats until 1999. After Weber, he spent two seasons coaching the London Towers of the British Basketball League. Ron finished his long career of coaching in Fillmore, Utah, where he coached for two years at Millard High School. In a coaching career that spanned over forty years, he never had a losing record. He is known for leading his teams into several of the famous NCAA game upsets that people still talk about today. Many of Coach A’s players and former coaching rivals were still calling him for advice, guidance and ‘secret plays’. As a basketball coach, he will be remembered for his brilliant mind, his passion and devotion to the game, his tireless hard work, and most importantly, his commitment to help his players grow, learn, improve and develop confidence in their abilities.

After Ron’s basketball career, he retired to focus more on his love for golf. He became the head golf professional at Paradise Golf Course in Fillmore, Utah, until just recent years. He spent countless hours grooming and maintaining the beautiful golf course for everyone to enjoy. He loved giving golf lessons and visiting with his friends in the golf shop. Ron had a tremendous passion for coaching and teaching all throughout his lifetime. In basketball and in golf, Ron inspired, motivated, and challenged countless individuals who will never forget his selfless acts of direction and determination. Making others improve in the sports world and also in life is what made him genuinely happy. He was a constant source of encouragement for everyone around him.

Basketball and golf were second and third to Ron’s true love in life; his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, uncle, brother and friend. He will be profoundly missed by everyone who knew him. As a father and grandfather, Ron was constantly ‘checking in’ to make sure everyone was alright and had what they needed. He would put spending time with his family above everything else, whether it was going to basketball games, giving golf lessons, fixing something around the house, or playing with his grandchildren. The love, generosity, concern, and affection that he had for his family is simply immeasurable. He loved fishing, traveling, music, and western movies, and could fix or build absolutely anything. He loved to joke around with his grandchildren, tell stories and spend time laughing with his friends.

He is survived by his children, Kirk Abegglen (JoNell), Kris Abegglen (Amanda), Kent Abegglen (Joanne) and Sara Golding (Larry), his sister Lana Arnold (Larry), his stepmother Ardith Atwood (Garth), his stepbrothers and sister; Valerie Dinkle (Brad), Brad McClellan (Carol), Gary McClellan (Linda), Jeff McClellan (Chris), Clark McClellan (Robin), 17 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Ron was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Jimmy and Ricky.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to all of Ron’s friends and neighbors. A viewing was held Friday, Dec. 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Ashley Valley Funeral Home, 410 North 800 West, Vernal, Utah. Burial was held that same day at 3:30 p.m. at the Vernal Memorial Park, 1700 South 500 East. Friends and family may call the Ashley Valley Funeral Home to offer their condolences. An Appreciation Memorial for Ron will be held Saturday, Jan. 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah, in the Rich Lounge, 4400 Harrison Boulevard, Ogden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ron Abegglen Donation Fund at Zion’s bank. This fund will be used to establish a scholarship fund for students at Weber State University.

Online condolences may be shared at www.AshleyValleyFuneralHome.com
Ron Abegglen, ‘Coach A’, died Dec. 19, 2018. Ron was born on Aug. 19, 1937, to Larry Abegglen and Wilma ‘Peggy’ Thompson Abegglen. Ron married LaRae Young on Apr. 3, 1956. He later married Nedra Blackham Nelson on Mar. 25, 1986.

Ron was a native of Vernal, Utah, where he graduated from Uintah High School. After high school, he went on to BYU where he had a four-year career playing basketball for the Cougars. He began his legendary career as a basketball coach first at Morgan High School where he spent thirteen seasons as head coach. After Morgan, Ron spent the next ten seasons coaching the Snow College Badgers in Ephraim. He then left Utah for the Anchorage, Alaska Seawolves first as an assistant coach, then as head coach. In 1991, Ron came back to Utah as head coach of the Weber State Wildcats until 1999. After Weber, he spent two seasons coaching the London Towers of the British Basketball League. Ron finished his long career of coaching in Fillmore, Utah, where he coached for two years at Millard High School. In a coaching career that spanned over forty years, he never had a losing record. He is known for leading his teams into several of the famous NCAA game upsets that people still talk about today. Many of Coach A’s players and former coaching rivals were still calling him for advice, guidance and ‘secret plays’. As a basketball coach, he will be remembered for his brilliant mind, his passion and devotion to the game, his tireless hard work, and most importantly, his commitment to help his players grow, learn, improve and develop confidence in their abilities.

After Ron’s basketball career, he retired to focus more on his love for golf. He became the head golf professional at Paradise Golf Course in Fillmore, Utah, until just recent years. He spent countless hours grooming and maintaining the beautiful golf course for everyone to enjoy. He loved giving golf lessons and visiting with his friends in the golf shop. Ron had a tremendous passion for coaching and teaching all throughout his lifetime. In basketball and in golf, Ron inspired, motivated, and challenged countless individuals who will never forget his selfless acts of direction and determination. Making others improve in the sports world and also in life is what made him genuinely happy. He was a constant source of encouragement for everyone around him.

Basketball and golf were second and third to Ron’s true love in life; his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, uncle, brother and friend. He will be profoundly missed by everyone who knew him. As a father and grandfather, Ron was constantly ‘checking in’ to make sure everyone was alright and had what they needed. He would put spending time with his family above everything else, whether it was going to basketball games, giving golf lessons, fixing something around the house, or playing with his grandchildren. The love, generosity, concern, and affection that he had for his family is simply immeasurable. He loved fishing, traveling, music, and western movies, and could fix or build absolutely anything. He loved to joke around with his grandchildren, tell stories and spend time laughing with his friends.

He is survived by his children, Kirk Abegglen (JoNell), Kris Abegglen (Amanda), Kent Abegglen (Joanne) and Sara Golding (Larry), his sister Lana Arnold (Larry), his stepmother Ardith Atwood (Garth), his stepbrothers and sister; Valerie Dinkle (Brad), Brad McClellan (Carol), Gary McClellan (Linda), Jeff McClellan (Chris), Clark McClellan (Robin), 17 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Ron was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Jimmy and Ricky.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to all of Ron’s friends and neighbors. A viewing was held Friday, Dec. 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Ashley Valley Funeral Home, 410 North 800 West, Vernal, Utah. Burial was held that same day at 3:30 p.m. at the Vernal Memorial Park, 1700 South 500 East. Friends and family may call the Ashley Valley Funeral Home to offer their condolences. An Appreciation Memorial for Ron will be held Saturday, Jan. 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah, in the Rich Lounge, 4400 Harrison Boulevard, Ogden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ron Abegglen Donation Fund at Zion’s bank. This fund will be used to establish a scholarship fund for students at Weber State University.

Online condolences may be shared at www.AshleyValleyFuneralHome.com


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