Ronnie “Ron” Edward Gillihan left us on Saturday Aug. 21. Ronnie was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on Nov. 20, 1949. Initially he lived outside Little Rock before his family moved to the Boot Heel of Missouri. He grew up in and around Senath, Missouri.
Ronnie was born to William Allen Gillihan and Ruby Bales Gillihan. His father, William had nine boys of which Ronnie was the youngest. William’s first three sons were with Vina Kytle. Of those 3 brothers, Reuben “Rudell” Gillihan was the only son to survive into adulthood. William’s marriage to Ruby produced the latter six brothers: James, Harold “Loyd”, Thurl “T”, Alec “Dempsey”, John, and Ronnie. Ronnie’s parents along with all of the brothers except John preceded him in death.
The Gillihan family sharecropped in Southeast Missouri. Ronnie spent many years chopping cotton, pulling bolls, and picking cotton. He and his brothers had many stories of “picking cotton.”
Ronnie was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969. He served 13 months in Vietnam in the infantry from December 1969- January 1971. He was proud to have served with the 1/7th Cavalry.
After returning from Vietnam, Ronnie married the love of his life Linda Kay Stricklin. They moved to St. Louis where he used the G.I. Bill to attend Ranken Technical School. While there he completed the HVAC program. Ronnie became an expert in the HVAC field and anything refrigeration related. He was ‘The Man.’
Ronnie worked for over 30 years in the HVAC industry and left an everlasting impact on everyone he worked with and for. He was often recognized for his technical wisdom and his work ethic.
Ronnie and Linda went on to have two children who had a very close relationship with their father: Jason and Amanda.
Ronnie moved his family a few times. They spent a few years in Rector, Arkansas where Ronnie purchased a pig farm. They resided in Poplar Bluff for three years. He eventually took them to St. Charles in 1991 and that’s where they spent the next 10 years.
When Ronnie retired, he and Linda left the St. Louis area and settled around Poplar Bluff. During retirement, he and Linda spent many years traveling to Florida to stay during the cold months. Through their annual trips to Winter Haven Florida, Ronnie and Linda developed some very close friendships with their fellow snowbirds. These friends eventually became family.
Ronnie’s hobbies changed over the years. He spent a lot of time crappie fishing with Linda. (They would gift each other a fishing license on Christmas). He also invested countless hours wood working in his shop.
Ronnie spent two years coaching his son Jason’s travel baseball team. He often spoke of how much he enjoyed those two years.
The thing Ronnie enjoyed most of all was his family. His door was always open, and he always welcomed good company. Often friends would become family and so the size of his family continued to grow.
Ronnie loved his wife and kids and he absolutely adored his grandbabies. His grandbabies gave him so much joy. He enjoyed spoiling them.
Ronnie was the most amazing husband, father, grandpa, uncle, brother, brother-n-law, and friend.
Ronnie is survived by his loving, devoted wife Linda Gillihan; son Jason Gillihan of Sturgeon Missouri, daughter Amanda Penrod and husband James of Poplar Bluff; granddaughters Addison Corzine of Poplar Bluff; Emma Gillihan, Reagan Gillihan, Willow Gillihan and (mother Ashley) and Ronnie Jo Gillihan (mother Amber) of Sturgeon Missouri; grandson Tristin Corzine of Poplar Bluff; brother John Gillihan and wife Rosetta of O’Fallon, Mo; niece Teresa Campion and husband Scott of Eolia, Mo; nephew Calvin Gillihan and wife Angie of Shelbyville Michigan; niece Janetta Korte and husband Jackie of Warrenton, Missouri; brother-n-law Larry Stricklin of Wappapello; sister-n-law Terrie Stricklin of St. Louis.
There are many more nieces and nephews, and friends too numerous to mention.
Ronnie leaves behind a tremendous void for those who knew him and loved him. He will be badly missed.
Visitation is set for Thursday, Aug. 26. The viewing will be from 11a.m-1 p.m. at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville, Missouri.
Funeral services begin at 1 p.m. followed by a procession to Mount Zion Cemetery of Butler County. Full military rites will be performed.