Ronald (Ronnie) Dee Greenstreet

Ronald (Ronnie) Dee Greenstreet

"Boxtop"

January 8, 1948- September 19, 2021

Ronnie was born in Mare Island, CA and the family moved to ABQ soon after.

He was fascinated by how things worked from an early age. He would take apart his toys, his bike, and anything with wheels, just to put it back together. This eventually transferred to his mom's car and later his own. This skill served him well as his first job was at a gas station. He was encouraged by a customer to go to work at International Harvester and there he learned to be a mechanic.

He realized he wanted to drive the big trucks and became a regular driver for Yellow Freight. He worked long and tireless hours, but he gave them 35 years, was named Driver of the Month multiple times, and was named New Mexico Driver of the Year in 2011, an honor he was immensely proud of. He was also very proud of the 35 years of consecutive Safe Driving Awards. In 2009 he was assigned a personalized tractor truck with his name on the door and he loved that it was "his". He retired having driven more than 3.5 million miles (more in reverse than most have driven forward, he used to say). Ronnie said his actual mileage is closer to 3.8 or 3.9 million and that wasn't even his personal driving either.

Ronnie also became an avid dirt track race car driver in his younger years, combining his love of mechanics and driving. He worked with his sister Ruth and brother-in-law Tom at their shop Coach's Chassis. He loved going fast and racing hard.

He also got involved in umpiring softball at Little Leagues, High Schools and later for USSSA. He enjoyed the friendships he formed with other umpires, being able to teach people how to umpire well, educating coaches and players, and watching the sport of softball.

Ronnie was an avid reader and could always be found with a few books in his trip bag and by his bed. He loved military and law enforcement mysteries. He also liked to know the answer to things. He would research topics and questions just to not have to wonder. He was very well versed on many subjects and could easily hold his own on many topics. However, he wasn't afraid to say he didn't know the answer or ask questions. He would always win at Trivial Pursuit though.

He was a tenacious worker. He would get home from a trip, take a nap and get to work on his "chores" as he called them. He took pride in his home and his pickup, a 1971 Ford that had the sweetest sounding purr to the engine after he had the motor bored out. He loved to drive it calmly and safely, but would also let loose and make it go loudly occasionally. But, he always did say, "It does cost a lot to go fast."

After retirement, he and his wife Donna loved to travel in their RV with their family and dogs, Gracie and Sammy. They took many trips and saw many amazing sights. It brought Ronnie joy to see those sights and to still continue driving.

He had many sayings his family affectionately termed " Daddyisms." They were always so funny and completely original to Ronnie's personality. These included:

· "Domino Nabisco, shredded wheat, hamburger and fries to go ooooo" to the sound of a catholic priest. Then he adds, "hold the onions(onyums)"

· Bruce and Marvin, Beto and Chewey when talking about Santa's reindeer.

· "Hi boys" when he sees a group of girls

· "I was born at a young age, naked, and close to my mother."

· "Rubber lipped pickle suckers" as a polite insult

· He called us "bean" as kids - monkey face, Hi Smooch

· I went to school both days

· Chinese food was always from "one-hung-lows."

· Upright, outta sound,solid state, and graaaavy - a play on 60's saying Up tight Out of sight, solid and groovy.

· I slept since then

· Give em' hell girl

· You want me to play the world's smallest violin for you? (while doing the motions)

· I stepped on a "frawg" (when he toots)

· Hello you, this is me (phone)

· Medium for median

· Visiting Gavin in Texas, Rikki was doing different versions of "Wheels on the Bus," and did Granpa on the bus goes shhhhhh, shhhhh, shhhhh

· Someone headed to the restroom - "Mention my name and you'll get a good seat

· Someone looking in the mirror - "Do you see a monkey in there?"

· Hit it and Hunt it - Golf

· Dr. Cramer's Cucumber Cream - It cures moles, holes, assholes, and elbows, and it do make childbirth a pleasure!" don't remember the extended version (there usually was an extended version to all his funny stuff he made up on the spot

· "Catch me", "Do me" for perfume, body spray

· I'd like a chile cheeseburger - no chile, no cheese

· Pitti-Pattys (washing his hands)

· It costs a lot of money to go fast!

· Epizootees - for a mild sickness

· He would remember numbers with engine size or race car numbers

· Talk to Hilary (going to the bathroom)

· They wouldn't call it work if it was fun

He had a joyful sarcastic wit and enjoyed being a ham to get others to laugh. He always had a pearl snap shirt on with a notepad and pen he put in his front left pocket. He always wore a belt with a flashlight and a leatherman on it that he utilized regularly. He also always had a pocket full of change, two sets of keys and everything he could possibly need. He always wore a trucker style hat, despite many attempts to get him to wear something more stylish. He had a lifelong love affair with cookies and ice cream, which he was known to share regularly and not so slyly with the dogs.

Ronnie is survived by his wife of 42 years, Donna; his 5 children; daughter Shelly Ramirez and husband Andy, daughter Sandi Hidalgo and husband Rob, son Daryl Greenstreet, daughter Rikki Rice and husband Shawn, and daughter Dani Valdez and husband David. His 9 grandchildren: Shannah Padilla, Skylar Padilla, Kiera Johnson, Rita Hidalgo, Davis Greenstreet, Gavin Rice, Ian Rice, Devon Greenstreet and Dejah Valdez as well as his sister Ruth Brooks.

He is predeceased by his father Willard Greenstreet, mother, Dana Swensen, stepfather Edward Swensen, and brother Donald Greenstreet.

A Committal Service will be held on Friday, October 15, 2021, at 9:45 a.m., Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM.