Ronald Lee Heatwole, 75, of Harrisonburg, Virginia and Port Orange, Florida died peacefully in Florida on June 24, 2024.

 

Ron was born September 17, 1948, and raised in Rocky Bar, Virginia where he grew up and attended local schools. After graduating from Montevideo High School in 1966 and Danville Technical College in 1968, Ron married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Whitmore, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed in Berlin where he served as a Russian language specialist during the Cold War, intercepting and translating Soviet military communications and achieving the rank of staff sergeant. Upon returning to Harrisonburg, he enrolled at JMU, graduating in 1975. He then worked for the U.S. Social Security Administration for nearly 30 years. He also taught GED classes in Rockingham County for more than two decades.

 

Ron was an avid athlete, playing for many years on local fast and slow pitch softball teams and in bowling and golf leagues. He continued to play golf and tennis several times a week into his seventies. At various times he was a member of the Elks, Moose and Eagles lodges and of the VFW and American Legion, holding just about every office in the Elks and serving as Exalted Ruler twice. He was a longtime member of Brown Memorial Church in McGaheysville.

 

Preceding Ron in death were his parents, Weldon Lee and Agnes Morris Heatwole; brothers, Weldon Lee Heatwole Jr. and Larry Wayne Heatwole and wife, Brenda W. Heatwole. He is survived by wife, Laura Lee Grant; daughter and son-in-law, Amanda and Mike Turner, and grandchildren, Teigan Heatwole and Dade Turner. Also surviving are dearly loved cousins, Gary Mowbray and wife Ellen, Danny Mowbray and partner, Judi Gregory, and Dale Blose, plus many other family and friends too numerous to mention.

 

Visitation will be held at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at The Life Church at Brown Memorial in McGaheysville, with Pastor John Crawford officiating. Burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery to follow.

 

Those who wish to honor Ron’s memory may make donations to Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA (or preferred animal shelter/rescue), the American Cancer Society or a charity of their choice.