Ronald Sibley Sr.

Ronald Sibley Sr. was born in Los Angeles, California on 4 March 1933 to the union of his parents Oliver Sibley and Emma Preacley. 

Ronald, grew up in Los Angeles, CA, as a very young boy he spent a lot of time with his grandparents, his grandmother taught him what sayeth the Lord, and he was baptized at an early age. Ronald attended elementary through high school in the Los Angeles school district, Affectionally known as “Wagon Wheels” for his bowed legs, Ronald was an awarded athlete in football and track and field throughout his years at school. 

Soon after high school he married Ruby Caldwell and from that union his name sake Ronald Sibley Jr. was born. At the age of 22 Ronald enlisted in to the Active US Army where he served as a Nike Ajax surface-to-air missile crew member at a California coastal defense base. While serving in the Army he managed to continue to participate in sports by playing football for his base’s team. He received an Honorable discharge from the Army in June 1957.

After his discharge from the army he worked with his mother at a local liquor store. It was in 1960 that he met Nela Gaines and from their union four children were born. In 1964 he and Nela relocated to Oakland where he took a management position with the “White Front” department store in Oakland, CA. 

In 1969 during the famous “Waterfront Strikes” in the San Francisco bay area he was chosen for Longshoremen casual work with the ILWU, he was given the registration number #0890, it was his lucky number for more than 50 years. Ron worked the San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Pedro Ports he was proud to be a Clerk and a Longshoremen until even after he retired from local 63. 

Throughout his life Ronald loved to have a good time, be around friends, eat local food, and stay up on sports. He was a die-hard UCLA college football and basketball fan but he also loved the Lakers, Rams and a Dodgers, anything LA, he was a fan of, because he loved LA and knew every nook and cranny of it like the back of his hand. He was LA’s best tour guide, he would spend hours driving around LA checking out the sights, stopping every now and then to check out “this cat” or “that cat”  a friend or two. And as he got older, he would spend hours allowing someone else to drive him around LA. He really enjoyed fishing and being near the water and watching the ships in the ship yards. Ronald somewhat of a gambling man, in his younger days spent a fair amount of time at “Hollywood Park” racing track placing a bet or two using his lucky number whenever he could.

Ronald kept up friendships from his days at school and he was always well known at all his favorite spots around Los Angeles. He was always willing to chat and to help anyone in needed, many times he has given his last dollar to someone less fortunate. He was generous. Kind. A funny comedian, he would say and do the craziest things, a wonderful trait that a few of his grandchildren inherited. He was giving. Proud. A devoted son. A caring brother. A loving father & grandfather. A loyal husband. And a best friend.

”If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” Job 14:14.  

With his loving and devoted wife Cynthia by his side; Ronald made his transition from this life with the peace and calmness that comes with being fully aware that his appointed time had come and that he will be going to be with his Father in Heaven. His change came at his home in Wilmington, CA the evening of September 10, 2020 at the age of 87.

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die….” John 11:25-26
Ronald was preceded in death and will be making his glad reunion with his grandparents, Beulah and George Preacley, Lawrence & Patty Callender, his step-father, Red Callender, Aunts, Myrtle Preacley and Georgia Preacley, Uncle, Roy Preacley, his parents, his first wife, Ruby Caldwell Forsha, his third wife, Eulalia (Alice) Sibley and his eldest Son, Ronald Sibley Jr.

Ronald leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife, Cynthia Escobar Sibley; Son’s Kevin (Yanci) Sibley of Fremont, CA, and Eric (Ruth) Sibley of Tucson, AZ, daughter’s Karen (Charles) Evins of Tracy, CA, and Gail Sibley Johnson of Oakland, CA; 13 Grand Children; Sean Sibley of Lakewood, CA, Tamiya (Donte) Bunn of Lathrop, CA, Ryan (Patrick) Sibley Madden of New Orleans, LA, Cedric Johnson Jr. of Hayward, CA, Justin Sibley and Holly Sibley both of Castro Valley, CA, Charles (Devi) Evins III, Antoine Evins, both of Modesto, CA, Jesseca Sibley of Fremont, CA, Jourdan Johnson of Oakland, CA, Jasmine Sibley of Fremont, CA, Josiah Johnson of Oakland, CA, Jocelyn Sibley of Fremont, CA. Nine Great-Grand Children; Aaliyah Evins, Amiya Evins, Jaroyal Evins all of Modesto CA, Ayva Bunn of Lathrop, CA, Charles Evins IIII of Modesto, CA, Ayden Madden of New Orleans, LA, Ayvarie Bunn of Lathrop CA, Audrey Madden of New Orleans, LA. Two Nieces, Talon Lewis and Taylor Lewis both of Las Vegas and Sister and brother in-law, Sylvia & Lenard Lewis of Las Vegas, NV. His favorite cousin DeBorah Davis of Los Angeles And a host of other loving family and friends Ronald will truly be missed by all who knew and loved him.

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