Ronald Gary Westphal of Vashon was born Aug. 11, 1935, in Isabel, Kansas, to Hugo and Margaret Westphal, and died April 29, 2009, of leukemia.

He graduated from Isabel grade and high school. He was an Eagle Scout.

He served four years in the United States Air Force. He received his bachelor’s degree in petroleum marketing from the University of Tulsa and his master’s degree in management from Georgia State University. He practiced transportation/logistics law.

He married Kay Brand in 1959 and they had two sons: Christopher (deceased) and Casey.

Westphal started his career in transportation and logistics with the Coleman Company in Wichita, Kansas, where he was the assistant traffic manager.

He worked for the Cities Service Company (CITGO) in Tulsa, Okla., and Atlanta, Ga., where he was logistics manager, and the Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, where he was manager of distribution planning.

In 1980 he was selected Atlanta Transportation Man of the Year.

He was an active member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church on Vashon and has been a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, serving the needy, since 1975.

He co-managed the St. Vincent de Paul downtown office in Seattle with Sister Agnes Sy Thi Le for four years and was then director of the St. Francis House for one year.

He was volunteer landscaper and groundskeeper for St. John Vianney Church for 16 years and coordinated construction of the Rosary in the woods in remembrance of his son Christopher.

Westphal is survived by his wife Kay, son Casey, his wife Helen and granddaughters Brigid and Fiona of Vashon; brothers Rev. Hugo and his wife Kathy of Syracuse, N.Y.; Dr. Dan and his wife Lynette of Boca Raton, Fla.; Dr. Carl and his wife Dr. Davonne of Seabeck, Wash.; sister Nancy Schukman and her husband Dr. Jay of Richmond, Va., and nieces, nephews and friends.

A rosary service was held at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at St. John Vianney, and a funeral service was held there at 11 a.m. Monday, May 4.

In lieu of flowers, Westphal requested that donations be made to the St. John Vianney conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society to help the needy (P.O. Box 308, Vashon, WA, 98070).

Visit the guest book at www.islandfuneral.com.