Photo of Ron that accompanied his obituary on the funeral home website.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 6/25/24 - Image Year: 2015
OBITUARY for RONALD D. HART
Ronald D. Hart, 84, of East Waterford, passed away at 2:40 PM, Saturday, June 22, 2024, at the Geisinger Lewistown Hospital.
Born on December 3, 1939, in Perulack, Juniata County, he is a son of the late Hugh H. and Geraldine (Doyle) Hart. On July 31, 1965, he married his surviving wife, Dorothy V. (Burdge) Hart, with whom he was blessed to share over 58 years of marriage before his passing.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Robert Hart, David Hart and his wife Chena, Hunter Hart and his wife Heather, and Bonita Gilson and her husband Bill; grandchildren, Marnie Plesce and her husband Zak, Fletcher Hart, Mason Hart, Mya Hart, Mitch Hart, Hannah Hart, Addie Hart, Lexie Gilson, and Lindsea Gilson; and one brother, Hugh H. Hart and his wife Mary.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sibling, Billy Lee Hart; and his stepfather, Gerald B. Hower.
He was a graduate of Juniata Joint High School and Shippensburg University where he excelled in wrestling and track.
Mr. Hart began his teaching career at Tuscarora Valley High School in Port Royal where he coached soccer, basketball, and baseball. After Tuscarora Valley High School merged with Juniata Joint High School and eventually became Juniata High School in Mifflintown, he taught and retired with over 41 combined years of service. While he taught at Juniata, Mr. Hart was also the coach of Juniata High School Wrestling from 1968 to 2002.
In 1988, Ron received the National High School Wrestling Coaches Award and then in 1999, he was inducted into the District III Wrestling Hall of Fame.
His memberships include the East Waterford Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder, Trustee, Sunday School Superintendent, and Teacher. He was also a member of the Blairs Mills Lions Club since 1961 and received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award from the Lions International Foundation and was a proud member of the Penn State Wrestling Club and the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.
Ron loved to walk, hunt, and spend time on the mountain on his farm and enjoyed taking photos of wildlife, exercising every day, had a passion for reading, and in earlier life, had horses and enjoyed riding on trail rides with his father; however, his greatest joy came from attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and other activities and time spent with his beloved family.
He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and courageous fighter for his 17-year battle against Cerebellar Ataxia.
Per his wishes, all services will be private with interment taking place on his beloved mountain.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Mr. Hart’s memory to the Juniata Wrestling Club, 204 Vincent Street, Mifflintown, PA 17059 or to the National Ataxia Foundation by visiting https://www.ataxia.org – in the memo line, please put “In Memory of Ronald Hart”
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brown Funeral Homes, Inc., 100 Bridge St., Mifflintown.
