Rev. Ronald C. Hubbard

Rev. Ronald C. Hubbard of Tampa, FL passed away on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024, 10:30 a.m. at Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 500 West Platt Street, Tampa, FL 33606, Rev, Valerie H. Goddard, Pastor, Keeney Chapel United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in Garden of Memories, 4207 E. Lake Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610.

Ronald C. Hubbard was born on April 7, 1938, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, to parents Bertha Johnson and Henry Hubbard. Ronald’s formative years were shaped by his grandparents, Alice Johnson (“Mama Alice”) and Silas Johnson (“Daddy Silas”). Clarksdale was the foundation of his early faith formation. Ronald attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School, where he sang in the choir and served as an altar boy. His love of sacred music fueled his desire to grow closer to God and was nurtured during his catholic education. Ronald was called to ministry at the young age of 14 and entered the Bay St. Louis Seminary, where he attended for three years. Ronald Hubbard returned home to Clarksdale and graduated from Higgins High School as the Valedictorian.

Ronald Hubbard had a heart committed to service and entered the United States Air Force at the age of 17. He was identified as a leader and excelled in combat training. He continued military training and began competing in the martial art of Judo. He was an outstanding martial artist who competed at the highest level of his sport. He was a champion and won numerous awards throughout the Air Force, Department of Defense, and other national competitions. His mastery of Judo enabled him to study in Japan under well-known martial art masters. While in Japan, he participated in numerous Judo exhibitions. Ron was honored to be selected as an alternate to the United States Olympic Judo Team.

While stationed at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida, Ron met the love of his life, Josephine Brodie Hubbard. Ronald and Josephine met on a blind date; the rest is history! They celebrated 62 years of marriage this year. From this blessed union are a son, Ronald Charles Hubbard, and a daughter, Valerie Hubbard-Goddard. His wife and children traveled and supported him on his numerous assignments throughout the CONUS and abroad, except for two tours of combat duty in Vietnam and Thailand.

Ron valued education and earned a BS degree in Social Psychology and an MBA. He continued to excel in leadership throughout his military career. Ron was a munitions expert and a technical consultant to McDonnell Douglas for the F-16 and A-10 fighter jets. He continued to advance in his military career and was promoted and selected to lead the NATO Evaluation team as a munition’s expert in Germany. In this role, he traveled extensively throughout Europe with a select team of NATO evaluators, ensuring the combat readiness of our NATO partners. He concluded his military career, having achieved the highest rank of enlisted service as Chief Master Sergeant (CMSGT). He was honored to serve as the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing Senior Enlisted Advisor and was the first African American to serve in this role. As 57th FWW Senior Enlisted Advisor, he was responsible for the operations of the 57th FWW, which included oversight of the enlisted flight support team for the USAF aerial demonstration team known as the Thunderbirds. He retired from Nellis AFB, Nevada, after 30 years of distinguished meritorious service in the United States Air Force. 

His community service and ministry service continued after his military retirement. Ron served ten years as a United Way Suncoast Senior Corporate Account Executive. He later entered full-time ministry in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served three years in a cross-cultural appointment at Grace United Methodist Church in Plant City, Florida. Rev. Hubbard concluded his formal pastoral tenure after 16 years of ministry service at Keeney Chapel United Methodist Church in Tampa, Florida.

Brother Ron was a faithful and Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He served in numerous leadership roles, including the Tampa alumni chapter president. He was passionate about the fraternity’s Guide Right program that mentors’ young men.

Music ministry was a mainstay in his life. Ron was a devoted member of the Nellis AFB Gospel Choir for 20 years. He continued his love of music ministry and sang in the Keeney Chapel Male Chorus and church choir until retirement. Ronald C. Hubbard was an amazing man of God, a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, pastor, mentor, and friend.

Ronald Hubbard was preceded in death by: his parents, Bertha Jackson, Henry Hubbard, and Eugene Jackson; Mother-in-Love, Altamese Brodie; loving uncles, Lawrence Johnson and John Acosta Jr.; sisters, Janice Vails and Dorothy Banks; and brother, Rodney Jackson.  

Cherishing loving memories are: his wife of 62 years, Josephine Brodie Hubbard; children, Ronald Charles Hubbard (Lynn), and Valerie Hubbard-Goddard (Anthony); grandchildren, Vanessa Hubbard, Avia Goddard, Ronald Cleo II, Christian Goddard, and Alfonzo Hubbard; great-grandchildren, Mallina Hubbard, Ronald Bryant Hubbard, Brandon Hubbard; siblings, Jesse Tucker, Mollie Levi, Lee Hubbard (Diane), Katheryn Ward (George), Ann Hale, Charles Larry Jackson, Ralph Jackson (Mary Alice), Rose Prewitt (Marlin), and Kevin Jackson; brother-in-law, Lyman Brodie (Janice); nephews, Lyman Webber (Julie), Anthony Acosta (Jackie), and Divario Acosta; niece, Valerie Brodie; and many other devoted nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, clergy colleagues, and friends.

A Visitation will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Keeney United Methodist Church, 7736 Destin Drive, Tampa, FL 33619.

Arrangements entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.

www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com 

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