Passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 at St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener at the age of 76.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy (Granger) Hill, and his three sons Greg (Amy Dahl), Randy (Kristie Wiman) and Brad (Emily Carrington) Hill, his sister-in-law Marti Sharpe, sister-in-law Pat (Granger) French and brother-in-law Ralph French. Ron is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He cherished his young grandchildren: P.J., Carlin and Nate.
He was preceded in death by his father, Henry Edward Hill in 1994, and his mother, Florence Hill in 2002, his brothers-in-law Bob Granger and Larry Granger and many beloved pets including Nicki, Annie and Riley.
Ron was born an only-child to Henry and Florence Hill in Guelph, ON on December 15th, 1947. He ran Hill’s Texaco and Hill’s Esso for 20 years before transitioning into car manufacturing with Chrysler in Bramalea for 10 years. He couldn’t stay retired and worked as a handyman in his twilight years.
As a young man, Ron met his wife, Nancy, at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute where they both attended school. They married on May 17, 1969 surrounded by friends and family. In 1971, Ron and Nancy had their first child, Greg. Two years later, they welcomed their second child, Randy, into the world. Finally, the family was complete in 1975 when Brad was born. He worked hard to make sure they were taken care of and felt loved every day.
Ron wore many titles: husband, dad, son, friend, coach, boss, and perhaps his most well-known and recent title: handyman. He coached and supported all three sons through many seasons of baseball and hockey. Ron himself enjoyed years of playing Old-Timers hockey and baseball in Guelph where he made life-long friends. He was a stay-at-home defenceman in hockey and a catcher in baseball. Both were defensive-minded positions that echoed his strong work ethic.
Ron and Nancy spent many winters as snowbirds in Florida on the Gulf Coast. There, they entertained old friends and new ones.
Ron also loved his dogs. He always claimed he did not want Nancy to bring home another one, but they always ended up sleeping in his bed that first night. Ron is survived by his current best-friend, Rosie.
While we lost our dad and husband, many have lost a friend and loved one in him. He has been a rock to many, a master at sarcastic humor and witty timing to others, and even a glorious pain in the neck, to what I'm sure is a small select few. There was so much more to him than just dad, though to us that was his greatest role. He was also a friend, a co-worker and colleague, a cousin, a defender, a handyman, the list goes on and on.
Arrangements entrusted to WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL (519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com).
The family will be holding a celebration of life at the Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 275, 500 Blair St., Fergus, N1M 1S4 on Sunday, December 1, 2024 from 1:00-4:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Fergus.
A tree will be planted in memory of Ronald G. Hill in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.