Ronald L. Jones
Wed, 02/22/2017 - 10:25am
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Ronald LuVoy Jones, age 80, of Dowling, Michigan, passed away, Sunday, February 19, 2017.
Ronald was born on November 12, 1936, to Earl V and Gertrude (Differding) Jones at their ranch-homestead near Rabbit Creek, Perkins Co., SD. He grew up there and attended the Happy Hill School a couple miles away. Ronnie had to leave school just after starting the 9th grade to help with ranch chores. He worked for the family and several other neighboring ranches preforming such duties as herding cattle and sheep, feeding and tending to cattle and also repairing fences. In 1954, at the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean Conflict on the DD644 USS Stembel-destroyer as a 2nd Class metalsmith.
Upon Ronnie’s discharge in 1957, he returned to Lemmon, SD, to do construction. He married his long time sweetheart, Ruth (Toots) Sperle, on August 9, 1958, in Deadwood, SD. On May 10 1959, daughter Belinda was born. While in the Navy, one of the ports Ronnie was stationed at was San Diego, CA, so after their daughter was born they headed back to California. Ronnie worked for Arrowhead Puritas. Then Ron went to barber college in Salt Lake City, UT. By June 2, 1961, they returned to Lemmon to have their son, Stacy. Next stop on these traveler’s destinations was Billings, MT, where Ron continued to barber. Barbering was not Ronnie’s passion. In 1962, they headed to Kimball, Neb., where he started with the iron workers working on the missile sites. Iron working also took him to Michigan City, IN, Battle Creek, MI, and finally settling down in Dowling, MI.
Ron was a lifetime Union Iron Worker for Local 340/25, retiring in 1995. After retirement, Ron and Ruth continued their desire for traveling heading to Texas and multiple trips back to South Dakota in their motor home. Ronnie enjoyed family, dancing, fishing, reading westerns, rodeos, always had a large garden, and loved to watch his humming birds. He was also a member of the VFW and American Legion.
Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Ruth; daughter, Belinda (Keith) Morgan; son Stacy Jones; grandchildren, Darcy (Ben) Staton, Chad Jones, Misty Jones, Dustin (Alisha) Morgan, Blake Jones, great-grandchildren, Lillian and Caden Jones, and special family friend, Vanna Huver. He also leaves a brother, Clinton Casey Jones, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Ester Schley, Alice Hall, and brother’s Lawrence, George, Glen, and Gilbert.
We prayed for him not to suffer, and God granted our wishes as he left peacefully in his home with his loved ones.
A graveside service with military honors will be conducted Friday, February 24, 2017, 2:00 PM at Fort Custer National Cemetery, 15501 Dickman Rd, Augusta, MI, 49012. Ronald’s family will receive friends, Saturday, February 25, 2017, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Hickory Corners Bible Church where his Memorial service will be conducted at 12:00 PM. Pastor Jeff Worden will officiate. In lieu of flowers please consider memorial contributions to the West Michigan Cancer Center or the Wounded Warrior Project. Please visit www.williamsgoresfuneral.com to share a memory or to leave a condolence message for Ronald’s family.