Ronald Clair "Ron" Brocious

Ronald Clair  "Ron" Brocious, 83, of Sherwood, passed away on November 26, 2020.  He was born March 15, 1937 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to the late John and Anna Eshbaugh Brocious.  Ron was preceded in death by his parents, wife Patricia who died in 2014, son David Brocious, grandson John Brocious and sister Nancy Phillips.

He is survived by his children, son Tom Brocious (Jeanine) and daughter Mary Comer (Michael); by five grandchildren Chrystal Espinoza (David), Christopher (Irene), Courtney, Sean, and Megan Brocious; two great-grandchildren Joshua and Tiago, and by brothers-in-law Paul Phillips, Arthur Myers (Jan) and James Michael Myers (Patti).

“Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” (defined: “to press on with a  task or current course of action regardless of apparent risks or dangers) Anyone that knew Ron Brocious heard him say this on numerous occasions…and looking at that definition, that pretty much sums up the man:  Ron Brocious.  He was a “man’s man”; an old-fashioned gentleman: independent and strong, honest and hard-working.  He was a man of few words, but he said what he meant and he meant what he said…guaranteed.

Ron put his family first, even if he went without.  He married his one true love, Patricia Ann Myers, on February 7, 1958.  They enjoyed playing games like dominoes, Skip-Bo, Pinochle, Euchre, Canasta, especially with Nancy and Paul and their family.  A “whiz” at math problems, he balanced his checkbook without using a calculator.  He enjoyed games like Scrabble and Sudoku, and in his later years he purchased a Smartphone so that he could play “Words with Friends”!  There was ALWAYS a puzzle in process in his home.

Ron’s career at General Electric spanned several decades and he served as a Field Service Engineer for the Locomotive Division.  He was mechanically inclined and loved fixing things.  Ron and Patti lived in several states over the years:  Pennsylvania, California, Texas, and Arkansas, raising three children.  Retiring in Florida, they lived in a KOA on Pine Island.  Ron was “retired” but still worked on the maintenance crew for the camp:  mowing and doing various jobs.  Patti enjoyed sunny days when he could be out and stay busy, instead of rainy days, when he’d be stuck inside the house:)

Ron was known for his keen sense of humor:  telling folks he was “just ducky” and “still vertical”.  His family and grandchildren were everything to him and he always had a word of wisdom for them, recommending them “not to take any wooden nickels”.  The cure for most anything was “a shot and a beer and a pinch of snuff”:)

He taught his children and grandchildren the importance of hard work and the value of a dollar.  Ron was a strong man, able to cut trees and split wood (but couldn’t outrun a falling tree…at least on one occasion!)  He enjoyed fishing, but couldn’t swim a lick, so when his inflatable raft sprang a leak, he and Tom rowed like crazy!  Hating having his picture taken, he offered his boat in place of having to stand for photos at one of his kids’ weddings.

His “Lovebug” was his world.  After 50+ years of marriage, she suffered a debilitating disease, and we witnessed this strong man gently and lovingly care for her at home, providing all of her daily needs, including learning how to do tube feedings.  That’s the picture of a loving commitment that’s “in it” for the long haul.  He leaves a legacy for his family after him to aspire to repeat.

“Papa” was truly a man of high integrity:  another definition that sums him up so well:  “moral soundness; an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting”.