More detail on this person: Ronald Van Orne,
89, a loving husband, father and grandfather,
passed away Friday, June 27, 2008.
Funeral: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Meadowbrook
United Methodist Church. Interment: Shannon Rose
Hill Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at
the funeral home.
Memorials: Nortex College Fund or Meadowbrook
United Methodist Church building fund.
Ron was born Dec. 14, 1918, in Newark, N.J., to
William and Irene Van Orne. After graduating from
Ohio University in 1940, he entered the U.S. Army
as a second lieutenant. As part of the "Greatest
Generation," during World War II he served in
Africa, Sicily and Italy. In 1964 he completed
fixed and rotary wing training. Ron flew for three
more years in the Army before retiring in 1967 as
a colonel.
He started a second career with Bell Helicopter,
working 15 and a half more years. In retirement he
and Jean remained active in Nortex Square Dancing
Association and Roadrunner Club, holding
numerous local and state positions. Ron was
married to the former Gertrude "Kay" Sharp from
1942 until her passing in 1981.
Survivors: His wife of 21 years, Jean; daughter,
Kathy and her husband, Mark; son, "Skip" and his
wife, Charlotte; grandchildren, Christopher,
Brittany and her husband, Jared, Dustin and his
wife, Julie, Jonathan and Tristan; and
great-granddaughter, Avery.
Published in the Star-Telegram from 6/30/2008 -
7/1/2008
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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