Ronald F. Carr

Ronald Franklin Carr (Rick), 88 years old, passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. He was born in Elyria, Ohio on February 24, 1935, and was a graduate of Elyria High School in 1953, where he played varsity baseball for 3 years and was a member of the Varsity E-Club.

In May of 1953, as a senior in high school, he enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard in Mansfield, Ohio ,then opted out in September, 1954, and enlisted in the U.S. Army on the 20th of September, 1954. He went to Germany in 1955 and was assigned to the 34th Signal Construction Battalion, VII Corps in Ludwigsburg, Germany. He graduated from the Seventh Army Non-Commission Officer's Academy in Munich, Germany in September, 1956. His military awards include the Good Conduct Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Medal and the Cold War Medal. He was honorably discharged in September, 1957.

After returning home, Ron kept busy coaching and officiating baseball and football. As a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, he officiated high school football games for 27 years and coached high school baseball teams for 21 years. He also coached Little League West, 1969-1974 and was Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach for Elyria West from 1981-1991 and also from 1993-1996. He coached Elyria Catholic Baseball in 1992 and North Ridgeville from 1998-2001. Ron was a registered official of the Ohio High School Athletic Association from 1964 to 1991, past President and Mechanics Officer, Northern Ohio Football Officials Association, and was selected to officiate the North-South All-Star Game in Massillon, Ohio in 1991. He was inducted into the Lorain County Coaches Hall of Fame in 1992. He was assistant football coach at Elyria West High School from 1992-1994. He was inducted into the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and received The Distinguished Service Award.

Ron was a life member of the Association of U.S. Army Historical Foundation and of The National WWII Museum in New Orleans. He was also a life member of The American Legion Post 12, AmVets Post 32, VFW Post 1079 where he served in the Honor Guard, Eagles Aerie 431, and the Lake Erie Chapter of the KWVA.  He was employed by United Parcel Service for 30 years, retiring in 1991. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Surviving him are his three sons, Richard of Amherst, Ohio and Keith and Kevin of Lorain, Ohio; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Preceding him in death is his wife, Diane; his parents, C. Franklin and Grace Marion Carr; his sister, Joanne Huffman; and a niece, Cathy Huffman of Marietta, Ohio.

Friends will be received at Reichlin Roberts Bollinger Funeral Home, 327 Cleveland Street in Elyria, Ohio on Saturday, December 16th, 2023 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Burial will be held Tuesday, December 19th, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst Township, with full military honors provided by VFW Post 1079.

Reichlin Roberts Bollinger Funeral Home is assisting the family with all funeral arrangements.