Ronald D. Montgomery

Ronald Duane “Ron” Montgomery passed away on November 25, 2024. He was a 31-year resident of Auburn Township. Ron was born on June 17, 1951 in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and was the only child of George Rhinehart Montgomery Jr. and Mary Elizabeth (Davis) Montgomery. Ron spent his early years living in Garfield Heights and Warrensville Heights and graduated from Warrensville Heights High School 1969. His love of drawing drew him to attend Kent State University to study architectural drafting and he finished his education at the Cleveland Engineering Institute. Ron’s careers included designing commercial kitchen equipment, facilities planning, and as an engineering consultant designing automated warehouses and distribution centers.

Ron loved the outdoors and stated that he had considered a career as a park ranger. He had worked a few summers while in college at the Camp Hi Canoe Livery in Hiram, Ohio, which is where he met his wife Barb and developed his love of canoeing. Their mutual love of travel, camping, and spending time on the water led them to become whitewater enthusiasts and they traveled extensively across the United States experiencing many of the National Parks and paddling dozens of rivers. Memorable adventures included a sea kayaking trip in the Sea of Cortez in Baja Mexico, a canoe trip in New Foundland, a hot air balloon ride over Custer Park in South Dakota, and a dog sled trip in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota.

Ron also had a love for motorcycles and designed a chopper which he had custom built. He loved riding, and Ron and his wife experienced the Sturgis bike week, loving the rides through the wonderful parks in South Dakota and Wyoming. Trips to Laconia, New Hampshire and Daytona, Florida for bike weeks were also fond memories.

Ron is survived by his loving wife of fifty years Barbara Lou (Tafel) Montgomery. His remains will be scattered on his grandparent’s farm in Glenville, West Virginia, where Ron spent all his childhood summers.

Donations can be made in his name to the Auburn Fire Department, 11010 East Washington Street, Auburn Township, Ohio 44023, or Hospice of Western Reserve https://www.hospicewr.org/ ,or the Geauga County Veteran Food Pantry https://www.geaugacountyveteranfoodpantry.com/.