Eulogy for Ronald L.

Peters
February 12, 2015
by Rev. John Partridge
Ronald L. Peters was born on October 15, 1944 in Massillon to the late William and Valetta Peters.
Ron graduated from Perry High school in 1962 and served in the United States Air Force. Now, No
one specifically told me this, but just by looking at the dates that means that Ron was in the service
during the war in Vietnam.
After his tour in the Air Force, Ron worked in the Massillon Kroger store with his father-in-law and
stayed there long enough to collect a pension and then moved on to Wal-Mart. Ron was married for
the first time in 1966 and was married for 25 years. But over the years, Ron moved up the ladder and
became a District Manager and his work took him away from home and all over the country to open
new stores. His work took away so much that Kelly said she felt like the Reba McEntire song, The
Greatest Man I Never Knew.
But even so, when he was home, there were things that they did together. Kelly remembers the day
that she came home from school and Ron had hired a bulldozer to level a place in the yard for a pool
and the two of them built a deck around it together. For them, the pool was their thing but they also
spent time watching the Browns together during the era of the Cardiac Kids, and like all of us who
were fans at that time, you probably shouldnt mention The Drive or The Fumble. Kelly wasnt
the only one who did things with Ron. For years, Ron was very active in the Indian Guides with Sam
and even made a teepee that they camped out in. When little Sam was three, Kelly drove to
Tonawanda, NY and spent a week with Ron at Niagara Falls riding the Maid of the Mist and all the
other touristy things. Kelly also remembers a trip that the family took together and spent a week going
to Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm and enjoying the California sun as well as trips to Cedar Point, and
Geauga Lake and one great trip together to Carolina Beach, NC where Kelly remembers driving up
and down the beach in a Red Jeep.
Ron was a very smart man and managed his money well, but what he really liked, was sports. He
loved to golf and he was an excellent bowler. He was one of those guys who, at least once, bowled a
perfect 300 game. Kelly wasnt sure whether he bowled just the one perfect game or if it might have
been more, but Rons brother, Chuck, was right there beside him for at least one of them. In Rons
mind, if it was outside, it was good. And it wasnt just bowling and golf. Ron loved all of the
Cleveland sports teams, and the Ohio State teams, and, well you get the idea. Ron even considered
inviting one of the Cleveland Indians to be one of his pallbearers. You guessed it, so that they could
let him down, one last time. But Rons favorite team was always the Cleveland Browns. But if there
was any competition for that favorite spot, it had to be whatever team his kids or his grandkids were
playing on. He came to all of his kids sports event, he came to every school play or any other event at
school that Kelly was ever in and lately he watched Baylee and Rylee play softball. Ron was always
so very proud of all of his grandchildren and step-grandchildren and he loved the apple pie that his
daughter-in-law made for him.
Ron had something of a reputation. He was almost never sick. That is, until he got cancer. Not too
long ago, Ron was living down south and knew something was wrong. And so he called and made
arrangements to come back home and live next door to Kelly. I think that, in the end, he just wanted
to be with his family. He had always been close to his sister, Barb, and he lost her in 2002 so that was

probably on his mind as well. In any case, Ron went to the VA hospital in downtown Cleveland for six
months of chemotherapy and received very good care there.
It wasnt enough.
But every day after school, Rylee would come home, throw her book bag on the floor, and run to get
Rons mail and check on him. Baylee would check on Ron too, but she didnt want to be quite so
obvious. There came a point of course when Ron could no longer stay at home and went to Rose Lane
Nursing Home. He didnt think that he would like it at first, but they put him in the veterans hospice
wing where he was surrounded by guys who were a lot like him. He made friends, played cards, and
really liked it there.
In the end, Ron knew that he was far from perfect. Like many of us, he knew that he had made his
share of mistakes. But there were things that he knew and understood. He knew that it is important to
work hard. He knew that it was important to save for the future. He knew that you had to take time to
have fun. And in the end, he understood that the most valuable thing that any of us have is family and
friends. And one more thing for months, Kelly had been asking him about matters of faith. She
asked him whether he was ready to come to church or ready to meet with her pastor. And most of the
time, Ron said that he knew he should, but he just wasnt ready. But then he came to church on
Christmas Eve and I think that Ron started to remember the one last thing. In the last few days before
he died, Ron told Kelly that he was ready, and that he felt like he needed to meet with me. And
although we never had that conversation, I think Ron understood one last thing. He knew that before
you end your time on earth, you need to be right with God.
I find great comfort in that.
Even though we never had a chance to talk, I am comforted because our God is not a god that insists
on repeating some magic words. Our God is the god who knows what is in the hearts of human
beings. What Ron would, or would not, have said isnt as important as what was in his heart. Because
we know that Ron wanted to meet with the pastor before he died, tells me that he wanted to get right
with God. Kelly knew that, I knew that, and now all of you know it too. But I am absolutely certain
that God knew it long before any of us did.
Ron Peters made his share of mistakes, but he had a lot of things right. He knew that hard work,
saving for the future, and having fun were important. He knew that the most valuable thing that we
have is family and friends, and he knew that it was important to find Jesus and get right with God.
I think that in the end, in more ways than one, Ron Peters had finally found his way home.
(See Obituary next page)

Ronald L. Peters
October 15, 1944 - February 8, 2015
Resided in Massillon, OH
Ronald L. Peters, age 70, passed away Sunday, February 8th at Rose Lane Nursing
Home.
Ron was born on October 15, 1944 in Massillon to the late William and Valetta Peters. Ron
graduated from Perry High school in 1962 and served in the United States Air Force. He was District
Manager for Wal-Mart retiring in 2008.
Ron was an avid Cleveland Browns fan. He also enjoyed golfing and fishing.
He is survived by his daughter, Kelly Richardson of Massillon, his son Samuel (Linda) Peters of
Canton South, former wife, Susan (Macioce) Peters of Massillon, his brother, Charles(Sandy) Peters,
brother-in-law, David Murdock, grandchildren, Sam, Baylee, Rylee, and Nicholas, step grandchildren,
Norman, Natalie, Nina and Noelle, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two
sisters, Barbara Murdock and Marilyn McClaskey.
There will be a memorial service 6:30PM, February 12, 2015 at Trinity United Methodist Church in
Perry Heights.
The family has requested in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Ronald' s name to Mercy
Hospice. The family would like to thank the entire staff at Rose Lane and Mercy Hospice for their
compassionate care. Cremation has taken place. Ron will be laid to rest at the Ohio Western Reserve
National Cemetery in Rittman Ohio.