“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” Psalms 62: 1

Ronald Stanford Peck was born on August 20, 1934, in Philo, OH to Martin and Gladys (Shattuck) Peck and slipped peacefully into the arms of Jesus on February 5, 2024, in Springfield, MO.
Ron was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. At an early age, Ron was called to the ministry and felt a burden for the Muslim community. He met Montiel Pate at Southeastern Bible College in Lakeland, FL and they were married on August 26, 1955. Soon after, they boarded a Greek freighter in New York City and spent the next 52 days at sea traveling to East Pakistan to begin their ministry. Ron often quipped, “We didn’t need an oil change or a lube job for a long time after that trip.”
Ron’s passion for introducing the Islamic community to Jesus was unprecedented. During a furlough in Mobile AL, the local paper came to interview him about the liberation of East Pakistan during a civil war and the creation of a new country called Bangladesh. Ron’s legendary tenacity and fervor was evident, as he pleaded for the United States to recognize Bangladesh as a sovereign nation. The story made the front page, complete with a photo of the Peck family on their front porch, suitcases at the ready. It showcased the Pecks perfectly—Ron and Montiel smiling and waving at the camera, with little blonde Ronda at their side also grinning and waving, while tiny Renee looking on with disinterest. When Ron returned to Bangladesh to apply for his Visa, which can many times be extremely hard to obtain, he brought the newspaper with him, saying, “Here’s something for you to read while I fill out the paperwork.” His Visa was immediately granted.
Ron’s ministry to the Bengali people was groundbreaking. He built the first evangelical church in a 100-mile radius in over a hundred years, eyeballing the specs as he went. This one act of faith helped to spark a fire that spread throughout the country. Today, there are over 600 Assembly of God preaching points in Bangladesh, including the church he built which still stands strong, with tens of thousands of people who are hungry for the Word of God flocking to these places every week.
Ron’s ministry continued to India and Brussels, Belgium, where he helped to found the International Correspondence Institute, distributing millions of pieces of literature throughout the world telling Muslims about the risen Christ. He and Montiel eventually settled in Springfield, MO where he served as president of the Center for Ministry to Muslims until he retired in 2004 after more than 40 years of dedication to the Lord’s work.
During his retirement, Ron found a passion for golf. He spent countless days on the course, playing with retired missionary buddies as well as new friends. Ron’s feisty competitiveness and love for a good-natured ribbing came out in full force during these rounds. After a solid drive that usually ran past the tee shots of his foursome companions, he was known to look at them and remark with a sly grin, “Maybe when you get to be my age, you’ll be able to hit one like that too.” Post-round phone calls to his sons-in-law were common, as he loved to brag about a good score. Most of these conversations ended with “I beat ‘em all!” delivered in his signature gravelly voice.
Although golf was surely a passion, it paled in comparison to Ron’s love for his grandchildren. Memories of long walks, trips to Andy’s, swinging in the backyard, and sunny days at Silver Dollar City are cherished by Suzanne, Corbin, Lauren, and Cassie, who he affectionally called his “Sugar Bear”.
Many of us know that one of Ron’s most distinctive features was his eyes. They could be blazing with fire one moment and filled with compassion the next. One Bengali boy who unfortunately witnessed this fire was heard to say in a fearful voice, “Mr. Peck has BAD eyes.” But in the same moment, those eyes would soften, becoming glassy and filled with tears, as Ron, with voice cracking, would speak of his heart for the lost, as well as all wondrous blessings God had bestowed on him and his family.
After Montiel went to be with Jesus in 2014, Ron met Valetha Rose at Central Assembly where they struck up a friendship. This quickly culminated into a loving relationship, and they were married on June 26, 2015. Ron’s love for Valetha was all encompassing, and they spent many happy years together, playing dominoes, watching Cardinal baseball, and hosting dozens of friends and family for meals. She is truly a gift from God, and we all are so thankful to her for making Ron so happy and fulfilled during his final years on earth.
Although we mourn for his loss, we know with all certainty that Ron sits at the throne of Christ today, those skinny arms and bony hands lifted in worship to our King. When he arrived at the gate, we know he was greeted by hundreds—if not thousands—of souls who came to know the Lord because of his ministry. He served the Lord unfailingly, following his calling with tenacity and fervor, through both heartbreak and jubilation, and now he has received his reward with the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Praise be to the Lord for His promise of salvation and eternity in His presence!
Ron is survived by his wife Valetha, his brother Chris, his daughters Ronda and Renee, his sons-in-law Jay and James, and his 4 beautiful grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Gladys, and his brother Vance. His amazing legacy will stand the test of time and there will never be another one like him.
Services for Ron Peck will be held at Central Assembly in Springfield MO at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 9th, 2024. The visitation will be at Greenlawn East Funeral Home on Thursday, February 8th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Please join us as we remember our faithful servant.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made in Ron’s name to the Assembly of God World Missions (Global Initiative).