Obituary for Thomas Ronan

Thomas Ronan, Jr., 78, longtime Ponca City resident, died Thursday, February 5, 2015, at Via Christi Village Nursing Center.

The son of Irish immigrants Thomas Ronan, Sr. and Nora Griffin Ronan. Tom was born on January 17, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York. He is the youngest of five children. Tom’s mother passed away when he was 11. At age 16 he quit school and worked for his brother’s grocery store to help earn money for the family. Once he was old enough to enlist, he joined the Air Force. Always good with fixing machines, Tom soon found himself as an instrument repairman for Air Force cargo planes. He also found himself about as far from New York as he could get while still in the United States.

While stationed at Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake, Washington, Tom met his future bride, Marlyn Juanita Cooper at a roller skating rink. They eloped to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho after a year’s courtship on September 15, 1956. Tom would often joke about their initial military married housing by saying "Some couples have His and Hers on their towels. We have US." They celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary before Marlyn’s death on November 22, 2014.

Tom’s experience in the Air Force led to his civilian occupation with Boeing as a machinist. After a couple years the Ronans moved to California where Tom worked as head of maintenance for Azusa Pacific Bible College in Azusa, California. After two more years they moved again to Wichita where Tom was head of maintenance at Friends University. While in Wichita, Tom also worked for Boeing in their experimental division. In 1970 the family made their final move to Ponca City where Tom worked for Mertz Manufacturing as a machinist and then as an NC programmer. Tom retired from Mertz Manufacturing in 2002 after 32 years of service.

He is the father of five children: Nora Jean Ronan King Brignolo, Kathleen Ronan Farris and husband Bob, of Katy, Texas; Walter Ronan, Michael Thomas Ronan and Patricia Juanita Ronan Ranson and husband Andrew, of Stillwater. He is the grandfather of seven: Evan Michael Brignolo, Jared James King, Aaron Dale Farris, Nathan Michael Farris, Laura Anne Farris, William Henry Ranson and Jenna Nicole Ranson. He is the great-grandfather of two: Ezra Dale Farris and Nora Findlay Brignolo.

Tom is fondly remembered by many as a hard worker, a dedicated Christian, a loyal friend and a proud "Poppy." He loved to laugh and always had a joke to share. His interests included classic movies, photography, scrap booking and genealogy.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, three siblings, three children and his wife, Marlyn. He is survived by his brother, Jack Ronan; daughters Kathleen and Patricia; as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held at St. Luke’s Church of the Nazarene at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 14, 2015 with Pastor David Frees presiding. Burial will follow at the Odd Fellows Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Casket bearers are Bob Farris, Nathan Farris, Jared King, Nate Macy, Andrew Ranson, Will Ranson and Neil Strangeland.

Condolences may be sent to Trish Ranson, 1920 E. 4th Ave., Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074.