Ronald (Ronnie) Blythe Schultz, Jr. (64) of Santa Fe passed away from this life on July 27, 2026. He was born on October 26, 1961 in Galveston, TX to Ronald, Sr. and LaVerne Schultz. He graduated from Ball High School then attended college at University of Houston Clear Lake, graduating in 1985 with a degree in biological sciences

Ronnie began his environmental career with the Galveston County Health District in 1986 as an air pollution investigator in the air division, was promoted to Manager of the Air and Water Pollution Services and eventually became Director of Environmental Health Services. He was dedicated to his role at the county and took on many responsibilities over the years including beach water testing through the Texas Beach Water program, various school recycling programs, small business environmental assistance programs, grant programs, studies on dissolved oxygen in the Dickinson Bayou and the Texas City Ship Channel, and various health fairs and environmental summits. He was involved with the Texas City Trash Bash event for twenty years and chaired the event committee for the majority of those years. He was recognized by the Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce for his service and won the outstanding committee chairman award for his work with this event. Ronnie was a founding member of the Galveston County Local Emergency Planning Committee and the chair of the education subcommittee that introduced the Wally the Wiseguy program to school aged children teaching them “what to do during a chemical emergency”. He also proudly served as the co-chair of several of the Galveston County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day committee that planned events and served thousands of households in Galveston County assuring the proper disposal of hazardous waste.

Ronnie took service seriously and served on many boards and committees including: Galveston Bay National Estuary Program’s Galveston Bay Council, Texas Environmental Research Consortium, Houston-Galveston Area Council Regional Air Quality Planning Committee, Houston-Galveston Area Council Natural Resources Advisory Committee, Texas City / La Marque Chamber of Commerce Environmental Committee, Galveston County Environmental Advisory Committee, Galveston County Animal Services Advisory Committee, Galveston County Storm Water Collaborative, Galveston County Lead Taskforce Member, Texas City/La Marque Community Advisory Panel, Texas City/La Marque Community Advisory Council, and the City of Santa Fe’s Park and Recreation Committee which he chaired and loved planning the Children’s Safety Fair and Easter Egg Hunt.

Ronnie retired from Galveston County in 2023 after 37 years of service.

During his early years at the District, Ronnie married the love of his life, Susan Walters, on November 4, 1989. They were blessed with two wonderful sons, Ronald III (Blythe) and Colton and three sweet grandsons, Callum, Levi and Clay. Ronnie was a dedicated and devoted family man who always put his family first. His family and friends knew that no matter what they needed, Ronnie would always be there for them. His sons looked to him for guidance and he was adored by his grandsons. He was a steady and constant support for his loved ones.

He was an avid saltwater fisherman who loved fishing with family and friends all over the Galveston Bay complex. He and his brother, Barry, fished together for 50 years and always impressed people who came along on the boat with how they could do everything on the boat without saying a single word to each other. They brought many family and friends fishing with them over the years including Blythe throughout his childhood, and recently Levi who was able to go on his first fishing trip with his PaPa just a few weeks before he passed away. As a fisherman, Ronnie entertained many with his stories and tales about the big one that got away.

Ronnie and Susan loved travelling and made taking trips a priority in their retirement. They took many exciting trips including a Rhine River cruise, visiting Blythe and Kaitlyn in Scotland and England, a Mediterranean cruise, Alaskan cruise, Hawaiian cruise, trips to Disney, Key West, fishing trips in Costa Rica and Destin, road trips down the coast in the Northeast in the fall, and more. They also enjoyed spending the day at the beach in Galveston just because they could! In recent years they have also made many trips to Pflugerville to visit their grandsons and made a point of being there for the big moments in their lives. Ronnie looked forward to the annual opening weekend dove hunt in Pflugerville with the “1 box, 1 bird” hunting group who enjoyed many laughs and good times together.

He loved cooking for friends and family and would never allow anyone to leave his home hungry. He was  a die-hard Cowboys fan (How ‘bout them Cowboys) and loved watching high school and college football. Attending Santa Fe High School, University of Houston and A&M football games with his friends and family was a great joy for him. He and Colton were regulars at UofH football games the last few years – a tradition that meant a lot to both of them.

Ronnie was surrounded by family and friends who loved him dearly. He was preceded in death by his father Ronald Schultz Sr., mother LaVerne Schultz, and grandparents Leo and Florence Schultz and William and Clara Stevens and Brother-in-Law Lanny Robertson. He is survived by his wife Susan Schultz, sons Blythe (Kaitlyn) and Colton Schultz, grandsons Callum, Levi and Clay, brother Barry Schultz (Wanda) and sister Nancy Robertson. He will be missed by many family members and close friends. He will be remembered as someone who was loved by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a cause that was close to Ronnie’s heart.

Honorary Pall Bearers: Blythe Schultz, Colton Schultz, Barry Schultz, Michael Nellis, Jerry Cross, Justin Cross

A celebration of life will be take place:

Visitation

Friday August 7^th, 2026

5:00-6:00 PM

Crowder Funeral Home

851 Farm to Market 517 Rd W

Dickinson, TX 77539

Memorial Service

Friday August 7^th, 2026

6:00 PM

Crowder Funeral Home

851 Farm to Market 517 Rd W

Dickinson, TX 77539

Reception

Ronnie always said he wanted a party to remember his life so to honor his wishes, there will be a reception with a meal following the memorial service at:

The Hidden Palms

3706 Avenue E ½

Santa Fe, TX 77510.