Ronald Paul Wise Sr

Ronald Paul Wise Sr., 76, of Olivet, passed away at 3:14am, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Ron, fondly known at COACH, was a baseball enthusiast and avid Cardinals Fan. Ron was born on August 10, 1934, to Leora Lucille and William Paul Wise. He was preceded in death by his wife, Roberta Starr (Crook) Wise, and his son, Ronald (Jay) Paul Wise, Jr., his mother and father, Leora and Paul, as well as his infant sister, Cheryl Ann, and his second wife of 23 years, Veragene Wise. Those he leaves behind include: His beloved brother, Larry (Wilma) Wise; his wife, Janice and her sons and grandsons; his daughters, Cheryl Ann (Joseph) Abbed, Aleta Gale (Raymond) Garcia, and Yvonna Starr (Deivis) Carnieri; his step-daughters, Sharon Lawson, Connie Keathley, and Kathy (Dave) Jackson; his grandchildren, Joey Abbed, Leah Garcia, Raymond Garcia, and Isabella Starr Carnieri; his great grandchildren, Caleb Drake Abbed, Colin Jay Abbed, and Chase Mikhal Abbed; and several step-grandchildren; Kristy and Kay, Heidi and April, Greg, Lori, Toby, Cherri, and Michelle; 27 step-great-great grandchildren; a niece, Debra Stark; and many extended family members, as well as, dear friends. Ron coached an Olivet team for many years, sponsored by various businesses in the community. His coaching spanned over thirty years. He served as Georgetown Baseball Leagues President, helped organize the Babe Ruth Program in the 1990s and spent endless hours dedicated to promoting summer baseball programs for our youth. He believed that giving the kids something to do in the summer would keep them out of trouble, so he often went out of his way to pick up the kids on his team, sometimes pulling them out of bed for practice. His drive to promote sports and fair play has touched many generations of baseball fans in the community. A baseball diamond is dedicated in his name at Georgetown Park, and he was honored with a ceremony which was a proud achievement for him. After the death of his son in 1969, he worked on a book Touching All the Bases, which gives the fundamentals as well as the concept of fairness and sportsmanship of the game. He understood and loved the game of baseball which comforted him through some of his toughest times in his last days. Ron was also a scout leader for many years in the 1960s, but most knew him as a grocer at Kroger in Danville or the IGA in Georgetown, always whistling down the grocery aisles as he worked. He loved his job; he worked for Kroger for over twenty-seven years and at the IGA for over 10 years. He loved meeting the community especially working with the youth. Ron was a lover of all sports especially enjoying a round of golf in his later years. Ron always had a great sense of humor and was an easy-going, loving man. He never met a stranger and always ran into someone he knew no matter where he went. A special thank you to the nurses and employees at Pleasant Meadows Christian Village who oversaw Dads care for the past few years. He touched so many lives and was loved by all. He will be dearly, dearly missed. A celebration of Rons life will be held at 10:00am, Friday, July 22, 2011, at Sunsets Houghton-Leasure Funeral Chapel, A Life Celebration Home, in Georgetown. He was a member of the Vermilion Grove Church for several years under his beloved pastor and friend, James Walker, who along with Pastor James Blue will be officiating the services. Visitation will be from 3pm to 7pm, Thursday, July 21, 2011, at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest in Vermilion Grove Cemetery in a place beside his first wife and their son. Memorial donations may be given in Rons name to the Vermilion Grove Friends Church or Olivet Church of the Nazarene.