Ron married my mother, Karen when I was 11. I have to say at the time I was not exactly thrilled at the idea. Up till then I had only really experienced a father as someone to fear and “lie low” around. My mother and “real” father had been divorced a few years by then and I was really enjoying being able to not worry so when Ron came onto the picture I was wary… how ridiculous this would turn out to be.
Ron’s own marriage had ended and as fate and a dog would have it they connected and the rest is history. As a husband I can honestly say as witness that Ron was pure patience and love, and in Karen it was reflected right back to him. Together they loved coffee, talking, Hawaii, scrabble, fall leaves, music and simply being together. The wedding vows they made some 28 years ago they held most true.
I can’t begin to tell you how much Ron meant to my mother, Elsie O’Ferrall, who was postmaster in a small town, Barclay, Maryland, from 1961 to 1978. She had the opportunity to attend several postmaster’s conventions during those years and Ron became a special friend for her over those years.
As a retired postmaster, she receives the “Arizona Leaguer,” and it was through that newsletter that she learned of Ron’s passing. She is very saddened to learn of his death.
In fact, she still tells stories about Ron and his great humor at those conventions. She is still living, at 101, almost 102, with me and my husband in Tucson, Arizona. (You can find some links to her 100th birthday celebration at our website, http://sites.google.com/site/jgmskm.)
In 2005, my husband and I traveled to Hawaii with friends for their daughter’s graduation from the University of Hawaii School of Law, and we took advantage of the time to visit the other islands. On the Big Island, we contacted Ron and met him for coffee one morning. We have a wonderful picture of him that we took that morning to bring home to my mother. She was so pleased to hear that he was doing well enough to visit with us. I will post the picture and a tribute to him on our website for you to access.)
Mom invested in a number of his “The Mail Must Go Through” books and gave them to her grandchildren and great grandchildren over the years so they would understand the importance of the US Postal System. She was a dedicated postmaster and her experiences with the League of Postmasters was always positive.
It was her experience as a postmaster that made her retirement to Arizona possible and has contributed to her longevity here. Her love for Ron and for her experiences as a postmaster are memories that she continues to cherish.
Please give our love to Karen and to his children at this difficult time. Our prayers are with you.