Gilbert Ronald Pumphry

I met Ron two weeks after my 17th birthday on a blind date in 1956.  He was 19 and lived 40 miles away on a three generation farm with his grandparents Harry and Clara, parents Gilbert and Alice, and younger brothers Doug and Jerry.

I enjoyed hearing stories of his growing up years where he learned the farmer’s work ethic.  At age two he was able to identify crops growing in the fields they passed.  They raised registered Hampshire hogs, crops, chickens, and eggs for sale, and a huge garden, milk cow Patsy, and the animals for their own consumption.  He was a 4-H member, played football, basketball, baseball, and the trombone in the high school band and a dance band.  He was already an avid fan of the Cleveland Browns and Ohio State football when we met. After two long hot summers of making hay on a horse farm Ron enrolled in the Work-Study Program at Wilmington College where he received a BS in Business & Economics and a certificate in Agricultural Business. He worked in sales and management but liked best the things that took him out in the fields.

Ron married me, Patricia Kinney Pumphry, in June, 1959. He was a friend and brother to my younger brother Tim and sister Sue Anna. Ron was a loving, dedicated Christian, community member, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

Over the years Ron shared the good news of God’s steadfast love and forgiveness, Jesus’ example, teaching, crucifixion, resurrection, and the Holy Spirit’s presence and empowerment. He witnessed personally and as a Sunday School Superintendent, Bible Study student and leader, bass in the choir, lay leader, lay speaker, SPR chair, delegate at EOC-UMC, the Organizing Team for a new contemporary worship.

Ron served his community in many ways including Kiwanis, New Philly city councilman, Andover Planning Commission Chair for almost 20 years.  When he finally fully retired in 2012 and we moved to Copeland Oaks he joined the Chorale, the grounds committee, was the Villa Association VP and President, and Thrift Shop volunteer.

Ron was an involved Dad and Grandpa (Papa). He encouraged Michelle, Lora and David in their education and interests.  He attended dance and piano recitals,  was a little league coach,  cub master, band booster,  exchange student host parent, attended games at all levels-t ball to professional, baseball, football, basketball, wrestling, and ice hockey.  We canoed on lakes, streams, and a canal, walked in fields and woods, took rides to check crops with a stop for ice cream, or relaxed and played with pets Jack, Pansy, Shadow, Ruby, and Bennie. Grandchildren added soccer matches, track meets-gasp-hurdles, cross country, softball, school plays, concerts, and computer games.

We missed our 61st anniversary by one month.  He was and still is my beloved.

In this Covid-19 era there will be no memorial service.  Instead we invite you to remember Ron by singing a song, rejoicing, taking a walk short or long and thanking God for His beautiful creation, going for a ride in the country and checking out the crops, stopping for ice cream, and sharing the Gospel.

Our Children: Michelle (Jay), Lora (Tom), David (Debbie), Grandchildren: Cady, Sean (Liz &  great grandson Charles), Sarah (Sam), Samantha, Mitch, Evan, Madeleine, Ella and I want to thank our Copeland Oaks Family for your love, support, cards, kind words, and  prayers.  To the staff of Crandall, there really aren’t words to express our gratitude for the care you gave Ron and are still giving others.

Sometime in the late summer the family plans to gather at Foxfield Reserve at The Wilderness Center to celebrate Ron’s life and scatter his remains.

Memorial gifts can be made to the Oaks Foundation Life Fund or the Employee Gift Fund c/o the Copeland Oaks Residents Association, 800 S 15th St, Sebring OH 44672.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home 75 South Union Ave Alliance, Ohio 44601.