Funeral services for a 23 year old Lexington man who drowned in a ship accident of the coast of Alaska where held Monday at Reynolds-Love Chapel in Lexington.

Ronnie L. Newton was a crewman aboard the Saint Patrick, a scallop trawler based in Jacksonville, Florida. Shortly before 1 a.m. Monday November 30, a huge wave crippled the 138-foot vessel inthe Gulf of Alaska north of Kodiak.
Lt. Larry Hazel of the Coast Guard air station at Kodiak, reported "the skipper, believing the vessel would capsize without power, ordered the crew to abandon ship. Ironically, the ship remained afloat despite winds of 50-70 knots (88-91 MPH)".

As of Saturday, the Coast Guard had suspended the search for four crew members sill missing from the Saint Patrick. Of the 12-man crew, two survivors were rescued and six bocies were recovered.

Newton was born June 10, 1958 at Bloomfield to Harold and Jan Newton. He was baptized at Fairview Baptist Church at Fairview, MO, Feb. 11, 1970.

He attended Lexington schools and was a 1977 graduate and participated in football, wrestling and track while at LHS.

He attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha for two years and had planned on returning there for second semester.

Funeral services were held Monday at 10 a.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Chapel in Lexington with Rev. Charles Boren officiating. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery.

He is survived by his mother Mrs. Frank Romeo and step-father Frank Romeo, Lexington; his father Harold Newton, Omaha; one brother Nickie and two sisters, Lori and Lisa, Lexington.