Ronald Charles Roosa, 66, passed away suddenly at Franciscan Health in Indianapolis on February 18th after years of fighting the good fight. Ronnie was born February 26th, 1954 in Richmond, IN, and grew up on the city’s north side. He was lucky enough to marry the first and only love of his life, Vicky Hughes, and together they raised three beautiful children.
In a career that spanned three decades in the kitchen and bath industry, Ronnie got his start working in the factory at Kemper. Through sheer determination and grit, his career blossomed from those humble beginnings at Kemper into stints at Schrock (Illinois), Stevens Industries (Illinois), American Woodmark (Virginia), Huntwood Industries (WA) before retiring in 2008 from Closetmaid (FL) and moving back to Richmond. He was a titan in his industry and was able to enjoy many nights “On the road,” eating fancy dinners and rubbing elbows with the top brass. Throughout his career, he was able to eat bratwursts in Germany, walk the Great Wall of China, sip margaritas in Mexico and freeze his butt off alongside penguins in Chile, South America – not too bad for a little kid with holes in his trousers from the northside of Richmond. His career was everything to him and he gave it everything he had and cherished every friendship and mentor along the way.
In retirement, Ronnie enjoyed his children, grandchildren, fishing 9 days a week, anything with Andy Griffith or John Wayne in it or really anything that resembled a western. An avid Three Dog Night fan since high school, Ronnie was proud to call frontman Chuck Negron a friend and was able to spend some time with him over the last few years.
A survivor of multiple heart ailments and a recent brush with kidney cancer led Ronnie on to his last and toughest chapter in life. Begrudgingly he sat in his dialysis chair at Davita in Richmond for four hours every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday battling his illness much like he battled every hardship in his life. Never one to not make a friend, Ronnie had his Dialysis Warriors and his wonderful nurses alongside him to the very end. His friendship, keen sense of humor, and larger-than-life smile will be sorely missed for years and years to come.
Ronnie was survived in death by his devoted wife of 48 years, Vicky (Hughes), his daughter Brindy of Fishers, and sons Braun (Crystal) of Centerville and Brandon (Kristen) of Richmond. He is also survived by his 9 beautiful grandchildren, Cody, Austin, Zack, Brylee, Parker, Alex, Henry, Leilani, Ellie, and great-grandson Cayden, his dog Ollie, truly a man’s best friend, sister Rhonda Abner (Oscar,) brother Mike Roosa, sister-in-law Therese Hamilton, niece Jami-Lee Hamilton Adams and nephews Donald and David Roosa and Robert Abner.
Ronnie was proceeded in death by his father, Buddy, his mother Barbara, his mother-in-law Valerie and his beloved father-in-law, Dave Hughes.
Visitation is to be held at Stegall-Berheide-Orr Funeral Home Wednesday, February 24th from 4-7 pm. Services will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, February 25, 2021, at Saint Mary’s Church in Richmond with Fr. Sengole Gnanaraj officiating. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stegallberheideorr.com. Memorial contributions can be made in Ronnie’s memory to the American Kidney Fund 911 E 86th St #100, Indianapolis, IN 46240, or think of him every time you cast a fishing line.