Ronald D. Thomas

Born in Brooklyn on March 31, 1936, he was the son of Ernest and Ruth (Healy) Thomas. Ronald married Josephine Ventura on Feb. 23, 1963, in Babylon, Long Island.

Mr. Thomas moved to Saranac Lake in 1973. He first came to visit the Adirondacks in the 1950s and fell in love with the area. He eventually bought property here in the 1960s. Prior to that he had lived in New York City, where he was an iron worker and was very active in the Iron Workers Union Local 46 until his retirement in 1995.

Mr. Thomas was a lifelong member of the National Riffle Association, was an avid supporter of the charity Feed the Children and had volunteered in the construction of the Saranac Lake Civic Center, helping with the construction of some of the iron work and steel beams. He was a loyal Brooklyn Dodger and then New York Mets fan as well as a passionate New York Jets and New York Rangers fan.

Upon retirement, Ron and his wife Josephine were avid travelers, crisscrossing the country several times, living in Florida, Virginia and South Carolina, but always finding their way back home to the Adirondacks.

He was incredibly proud of both of his grandsons and their achievements. His oldest, Alec, served four years in the U.S. Navy, and he lived to watch his youngest grandson, Christian, excel at playing hockey.

He is survived by his wife, Josephine, with whom he was married to for almost 52 years; one son, Ronald B. Thomas and his wife Amy of Bloomingdale; two grandchildren: Alec R. and Christian J-V Thomas; and three brothers: James of Kingman, Arizona, David of Trumbull, Connecticut, and Robert of Newport, North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. There will be no calling hours. Funeral services will take place at the convenience of the family. Burial will take place in St. Paul’s Cemetery in Bloomingdale.

Friends wishing to remember Ronald D. Thomas may make memorial contributions to the Saranac Lake Pee Wee Hockey Association in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.