Obituary for Ronald Dice

Ronald Keith Dice

July 17, 1937 – December 8, 2024

The funeral service for Ron Dice has been set for Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Roberts & Son Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Mount Olive Cemetery in Nardin, OK.

Ron passed away peacefully at Wesley Medical center of Wichita, KS surrounded by his three sons and their wives on Sunday, December 8, 2024.

He was the son of Lee and Ida Dice (née Lute), born on July 17, 1937, in Blackwell, OK.
Ron spent his entire life in Blackwell. Early on, Ron worked many local jobs developing incredible people skills and a strong work ethic, most notably as a dependable and honest paperboy for the Blackwell Journal Tribune. It was during his high school years that he attended Trades and Industry school (T&I), mastering graphic printing. He later worked for the Wichita Eagle as a pressman, and simultaneously operated Dice Roofing for many years, beginning in 1968. Ron worked alongside his roofing crew until he was nearly 80.

Ron met the love of his life, Janell Swaggart of Deer Creek, OK. After a few trips to the Salt Plains where they planned a future together, Ron and Janell were married on February 12, 1960.

Ron was drafted by the US Army and arrived in Seoul, Korea in November of 1960. He was selected to join the Honor Guard and served until 1962. Along with his love for his family, building a full upstairs addition to the longtime family home on North 8th street, coaching Blackwell youth sports and leading the local cub scouts, Ron was immensely proud of his service to his country.

Ron’s final years were spent reminiscing about his baseball teams, the many roofing jobs he completed around Kay county, and just making sure everyone was ok. Although he never asked for help, he truly enjoyed the daily visits by his loving caregivers Daniele, Mary, and McKenna.

Survivors include his three sons, Greg and wife Vicky, Kent and wife Lisa, and Jason and wife Jamie, his sister Collette Wright, nine beloved grand kids, Minden, Devin, and Trey (Greg & Vicky), Kale, Payton, and Emma (Kent & Lisa), Taylor, Emily, and Denton (Jason & Jamie) and five beloved great-grand kids, Kit and Cas (Devin & Jeb Taylor), Caroline and Natalie (Kale and Ali Dice), and Braxton (Emma & Reed Reynolds).
Ron was preceded in death by his wife, Janell, his parents Lee and Ida, his brother John LeRoy, his mother in-law and father in-law Albert and Dorine Swaggart, and a granddaughter Kylie Ann Dice.

Ron didn’t know a stranger. He was an engaging storyteller, known as Papa Ron, Uncle Ronnie, and Coach. He had a huge heart and love for life, people, hard work, and the many friendships he made on earth.

Honorary pallbearers are his grand kids.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to Visiting Angels of Edmond, OK, 2000 W. Danforth Rd. #132, Edmond, OK, 73003.