Ronald E. Kidd | 1937 - 2013 | Obituary
June 18, 1937 - October 8, 2013
Ronald Kidd
Seminole – Ronald Kidd, 76, of Seminole, Florida passed into eternal life on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He leaves his wife and companion of over 53 years, Laura (Wilder) Kidd; four daughters and their families: Carol Tuttle and her husband Alton and their daughter Alyssa of Maryville, Tennessee; Patricia Kidd-Dillow and her son Jeremy and daughter Laura of Seminole, Florida; Sandra Kidd Turner and her husband David and sons Zachary and Johnathan (J.D.) of Seminole, Florida; Josie Kidd-Baun and her husband James Baun of Louisville, Tennessee; and a brother, John Edward Kidd of Ogdensburg, New Jersey; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, John and Frances Kidd; in-laws Elory and Hattie Wilder, Eugene Wilder, and Sally Kidd.
Ron attended Fair Lawn High School in Fair Lawn, New Jersey and pursued a chemistry degree at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with the 281st ASA Company on the island of Shemya in the Aleutian Islands.
After being honorably discharged from the military, Ron was employed as the Standards Laboratory Manager at Microwave Associates in Burlington, Massachusetts. During this time, he belonged to numerous professional organizations and committees, but he was most proud of his time served as the President of the National Calibration Standards Laboratory International (NCSLI) for the 1978 – 1979 term. After 25 years at Microwave Associates, Ron retired to stay home and provide continuous care to his mother-in-law, Hattie Wilder, during her illness. In 1986, Ron then moved to Connecticut to work for Hamilton Standard as a Quality Control Engineer for the Department of Defense. In 1992, he relocated to Florida to serve as a Plant Quality Engineer for Martin Electronics, retiring (again) in 1998.
Ron believed in giving back to his community and did so in many ways. Ron served as Selectman for the Town of Sterling in Massachusetts, during which time he was involved in the design and development of the Griffin Road youth athletic facility. He also coached the Sterling/Princeton Steelers youth football team and Little League Baseball. He was a past master and life member of the Trinity Lodge A.F. & A.M of Clinton, Massachusetts, a member of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts, and a member of the VFW. Ron was also an active member of the First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, Largo, Florida and a former deacon at the First Church of Sterling, Sterling, Massachusetts.
One of Ron’s favorite past times was sports, particularly baseball and enjoyed the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ron also enjoyed spending time with his family, friends, and his special buddies Cap’n, Stretch, Snoopy, and Angel, the family dogs.
The family would like to thank the following for their care and compassion: Suncoast Hospice and especially nurses Hope, John, Deborah, Paul, Ken, and Jeff; Dr. Lane Ziegler and his staff at Florida Cancer Specialists, Largo, Florida; Dr. Christopher Patterson and his staff at Anona Medical Center, Largo, Florida; family friends Matt Knapik and Patti Chin; Ed Flory; Dr. and Mrs. Ernie Kellner; Pat Dickerson; the Pathfinder class at Indian Rocks Baptist Church of Indian Rocks; and the staff of NeuroScience Associates of Knoxville, Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made instead to either Suncoast Hospice of Pinellas County (http://www.thehospice.org/Donate) or the Missing in America Project http://www.miap.us/Donation.html
Visitation Monday, October 14, 2013, from 6-8 PM, here at the Funeral Home. Service will be Tuesday, October 15, 2013, at 10 AM, here at the Funeral Home, with Dr. Ernest Kellner officiating. In addition, there will be a Masonic Ceremony by the Gulf Beach Lodge. There will also be Military Honors by the Korean War Veterans Honor Guard.
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