Ronald L. Dart
January 7, 1934  -  January 23, 2016

Ronald Dart, founder of Christian Educational Ministries and the Born to Win broadcast, died during the morning of Jan. 23, 2016. Ron was 82 years old at the time of his death.

The official cause of death was a "prolonged battle with cutaneous T cell lymphoma," announced CEM office manager Linda Benton. She said he "died peacefully in his sleep." Mr. Dart had never fully recovered from a injury to his head caused by a fall in 2010.

Ron was born January 7, 1934 in Harrison, Arkansas to Tildon and Eva Dart.  In September 1952 Ron went from high school into the Navy. He ultimately served for four years, achieving the rank of Petty Officer, First Class.  He and his wife Allie were married in Houston in February 1953. Living in San Diego, California at the time he left the Navy, the couple decided to move to Abilene, Texas so that Ron could pursue further education.

Ron attended Hardin Simmons University for two years. In 1958 Ron and Allie moved to Southern California in order to attend the Worldwide Church of God's Ambassador College in Pasadena. In 1960 Ron graduated from Ambassador with a bachelor's degree.

Ron served as a pastor of a church, and returned to AC to get his Master's Degree. He then went to the University of Texas, in Austin and did work towards his doctor's degree in communications. Ron eventually taught speech and theology at Ambassador College.

While employed by the Worldwide Church of God, Ron served in various responsibilities which included the following:

• Dean of Students and instructor at the Ambassador College campus in Bricket Wood, England.

• Director of the International Regions of the Worldwide Church of God.

• Deputy Chancellor of the Ambassador College campus in Big Sandy, Texas.

• Pastor of the Big Sandy Worldwide Church of God (1973 to 1976)

• Director of Church Administration for the WCG

Ron joined the Church of God, International, founded by Garner Ted Armstrong, in September 1978.  He left the CGI in 1995 and formed Christian Educational Ministries with his wife Allie in November of the same year. His radio program, Born to Win, is currently heard on several radio stations throughout the United States.

Ron was preceded in death by his father, mother, and sister, Nana Williams. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Allie.

Visitation is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. CST Tuesday, January 26, at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler. Services for Mr. Dart will be held Wednesday, January 27, 2016, 2:30 p.m. CST, at Stewart Family Funeral Home with Jonathan Garnant officiating.   Pallbearers will be Gary Gibbons, C. Rod Martin, John Currier, Willie Oxendine, Joshua Voyce, and John Beasley. Burial will follow at Whitehouse Memorial Cemetery in Whitehouse, Texas.

Cards and condolences can be sent to:
Christian Educational Ministries, P.O. Box 560, Whitehouse, TX, 75791   USA

DVDs or audio CDs of Ron's memorial service
can be requested from the above address.

Wedding photo of Ron and Allie Dart
February 21, 1953

Interesting Facts

The Envoy was Ambassador College's yearbook. In 1960 it states the following under Ron Dart's picture (he was a senior at the time):

"A transfer student to Ambassador, Ronald possesses a fine bass voice that is used in Chorale and the Octet. His wit and buoyant manner have a uplifting effect. He works in the Mail Reading Department."

The 1963 Envoy lists Ron as a member of the faculty. He is listed as "Ordained Minister, Lecturer in Theology, Public Speaking."

The Church of God News, a publication of the Worldwide Church of God, in its January, 1965 issue, lists Ron as a professor and minister from the college at Bricket Wood, England.

The 1967 Envoy lists Ron as the Dean of Students of the WCG college at Bricket Wood, England.

In 1968, per the Worldwide Church of God's "Manpower" report, Ron was the pastor of the Birmingham, England church.

The 1969 and 1971 Envoys list Ron as the Vice President of the Foreign Education Service.

The Bulletin, another publication of the Worldwide Church of God, in its June 1, 1977 issue, lists Mr. Dart as the Director of Pastoral Administration.

Ron's first official message in the newly formed Church of God, International (founded by Garner Ted Armstrong) was entitled "I am a minister of Jesus Christ" and was given on September 23, 1978. This was less than two months after GTA's first post-WCG message on August 5, 1978, a two-part series called "Explanation of WCG Expulsion."

Christian Educational Ministries hosted their first Feast of Tabernacles site in 1996. It was located in Kissimmee, Florida. They used the location again for the Feast in 1997.

Info on this page collected from a variety of
sources by Webmaster Alan Ruth. Wedding
photo courtesy of Church of God, Big Sandy.