Ronald Gilroy Jr

Biography

Ronald D. Gilroy, Jr., 58, of Bellefontaine, passed away Saturday morning, February 14, 2015 at his home following a long battle with cancer.

Ron was born in Lima, Ohio on September 10, 1956 to Ronald D. and Alice F. (Bailey) Gilroy, and they survive in Lima. He is also survived by his brothers Mark (Nita) Gilroy of Lima and Brian (Julie) Gilroy of Lima; nieces and nephews: Diana (Curtis O’Brien) Gilroy of Bellefontaine, Shane (Jessica) Gilroy of Lima, Kayla Gilroy of Lima, Mark Gilroy II of Lima and Jarod (Casey) Kohnen of St. Mary’s, Ohio; great-nieces Danica Gilroy and Sophia Kohnen; aunts Rella (Don) Michaels, Janie Bailey and Sue Bailey; and special friends Ron Balonier, Ron Hoyt, Elaine Harvey, Barb Brookhardt, Marsha Klein and Phil Stewart.

Ron was a graduate of Lima Perry High School - Class of 1974, Lima Technical College with an Associate Degree in Nursing in 1981 and obtained his Bachelor Science in Nursing from Capital University in 2006. Ron volunteered as a firefighter and was one of the first paramedics with Perry Fire Department for 23 years. He also served as Chief of the Perry Fire Department for two of those years. Ron worked at Lima State Hospital, Oaks Convalescent Center, Lima Memorial Hospital, Doctors Hospital and Dublin Methodist Hospital.

Ron enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Having grown up on a farm, he was an animal lover and lived his last 10 years on a small farm with a menagerie of animals. Ron loved gardening and sharing his fresh vegetables with family and friends. He was an avid Democrat.

Ron was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents John and Neva Gilroy, maternal grandparents Rev. Cassel and Martha Bailey, great-aunt Pat Sloas, and uncles Alden Bailey, Harold Bailey and Harless Lafferty.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 4pm at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home, 321 N. Main St. Bellefontaine with Chaplains Jean Fenney and Robin Walton officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home two hours prior to the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dublin Nursing Scholarship (designate on memo line “Ron Gilroy Memorial Nursing Scholarship” and sent to Dublin Hospital, c/o OhioHealth Foundation, 180 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215 or to the Hardin County Hospice, 15 N. Detroit St, Suite #4000, Kenton, OH 43326. The family wishes to thank the Hardin County Hospice for all the care and compassion shown to Ron during his illness.