Ronald Umbeck

Beloved teacher at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Virginia, Ronald L. Umbeck, 78, of Arlington, Virginia, formerly of Cape Girardeau, passed away Monday, July 13, 2020, at Inova-Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria.

He was born Aug. 14, 1941, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Roy Herman and Gladys V. Adams Umbeck.

Ron attended the former Lorimier Elementary School in Cape Girardeau and started playing the clarinet in third grade. While attending seventh grade at the former Schultz Junior High School in Cape Girardeau, he started playing the trumpet. In eighth grade, Ronald moved to San Diego. He was a 1959 graduate of Hoover High School and a 1963 graduate of the University of San Diego. He worked one year as a teacher's assistant at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

In 1967, he received a master's degree in mathematics from Catholic University in Washington D.C. He then taught school nearly 50 years at Bishop Ireton, serving 40 years as the academic coach for the school's team on the NBC local program, "It's Academic." Through the years, Ron continued to use his musical ability and often played and traveled with various bands.

Ron was a longtime member of Queen of Apostles Catholic Church in Alexandria, serving as an usher and a Eucharistic Minister for the school.

To cherish his memory, Ron leaves three brothers, John (Shirley) Umbeck of Jackson, Mark (Janet) Redmond of Lafayette, California, and Gregory Redmond of San Diego; a maternal aunt, Margaret Cobb of Cape Girardeau; several nephews and nieces, including Mark Umbeck of Cape Girardeau, John Umbeck Jr. of Jackson, William "Bill" (Amy) Umbeck and son Noah of Cape Girardeau, David Umbeck of Cape Girardeau, and Sean (Jessica) Umbeck and children Clayton, Remington, Grayson of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his father, Roy H. (Ruth) Umbeck; mother, Gladys (Raymond) Redmond; brother, Paul Redmond; and nephew, Patrick Umbeck.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jason Grubbs and Deacon Al Stoverink officiating. Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tributes wall tab of Ron's personal obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Bishop Ireton High School, 201 Cambridge Road, Alexandria, VA. 22314.