Ronald R. Pyles

Ronald R. Pyles, of Wapakoneta, slipped away quietly in the early hours of his 72nd birthday, having fought an incredibly courageous battle with cancer. He was born on February 24, 1953 in Lima, to Leonard L. Pyles, Sr. & Jeanne M. (Donaldson) Pyles. On September 26, 1981, he married Cindy Burden, who survives.

Survivors also include two daughters, Sarah E. (Roger) Kelsey and Kaia (Jacob Anderson) Pyles; his beloved dog, Joey; three brothers, Leonard "Lee" Pyles, Jr., Terry (Susy) Pyles, and Michael (Kathy) Pyles; 13 nieces and nephews, Robin (Alice) Pyles, Chris (Brenda) Pyles, Greg (Jessie) Pyles, Brad (Mercedes) Pyles, Brent (Crystal) Pyles, Rebecca Brown, Lawrence "Bud" (Karen) Brown, Louisa (Skip) Elchart, Amanda Phillips Brown, Shane (Tina) Burden, Aimee (Jason) Horstman, Nicole (Terrell) McMillan, Amanda Burden; and many, many great-nieces and nephews that he adored as well.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Joan Jacobs; his beloved brother-in-law, Big Rick (Genny) Burden; sister-in-law, Frances Pyles; and a nephew, John Brown.

Ronnie was a 1971 graduate of Waynesfield-Goshen high school.

He retired from ODNR, Grand Lake St. Marys State Park where he completed his career there as an Assistant State Park Manager. He began his career there as a suction dredge operator. Ron was surgical with heavy equipment, and he loved it.

He began operating at a very young age, soon becoming a test operator at Clark Equipment, where his job was to take a new crane, backhoe, etc. and in his words, "see what she could take". He worked operating giant machines on an oil refinery demolition project in the mid '80s. He and his dear friend, Dave Stroh dug many ponds. In his last years, he found great pleasure in working ground & operating with his buddy, Nick Heitz.

He owned & operated RCS Exterior Design, doing landscaping, mowing, and snow removal. He has numerous miles as a truck driver transporting hazardous materials. His "bucket list" wish was to operate a CAT D-11 bulldozer. And that wish came true for him in the fall of 2023.

He was an avid fisherman and hunter. One of his greatest joys was going on Michigan fishing trips to Croton on the Muskegon and Fletcher's pond with his nephews and brothers. Ron loved waterfowl & upland bird hunting with dear friends, brothers & nephews. In earlier years he took great pleasure in guiding corporate upland bird hunts with his Brittany bird dogs, Mindi, Jessie, Annie and Kelli. He was a member of Brands Lake Fishing Club, where he and Joey spent a great deal of time.

He also loved cruising on his Harley. He and Cindy rode the "Tail of the Dragon" with dear friends after he beat Stage IV lung cancer in 2012. He was amazing.

What meant most to him was his family, but especially his daughters. He was an amazing father, teaching both daughters how to do so many things like change tires, oil, fish, hunt - all the things that a Dad of his caliber would do. He was a Dad that a girl could call, no matter what, and he'd be there.

Services will begin at 11:30 a.m. Friday, February 28, 2025 at Schlosser Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Jason Horstman will officiate and interment will follow in Walnut Hill Cemetery, New Hampshire. Family and friends may visit from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to services Friday, all at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the James Cancer Center, Deb's Dogs or All Starr Pets.