In memoriam

1941 - 2021

Ron Peugh was a gentle soul. A kind man. Loved to chat and loved his morning coffee. He was intelligent, meticulous and extremely organized. A disciplined man. A proud Marine.

 

I was fortunate to have lived under the same roof with him for his last two and a half years. In that time, we had many conversations. It was interesting to hear some of his life experiences growing up in the post WWII and Vietnam War eras. Because of his dad, the military and his career, he was very well traveled. He went to high school in Japan and always kept tabs on his classmates. He never missed a chance to tell me how sad he felt every time he'd hear about one of his past classmates or service buddies passing away, but glad that he's been able to live so long. It was a bittersweet feeling he had, thinking he might outlive everyone.

 

Ron had a great career. In the military, he held the position of radar specialist and provided training to his fellow Marines on the latest electronics. After serving, he went to college, got married and went to work for GM. He received an undergrad education in computer science and management studies. Later he worked as a software developer, systems analyst, project engineer, quality control specialist, department supervisor and recruiter. He worked for The Air Force, The DoD, NASA, Hughes, Raytheon and others.

 

Ron loved to tinker. He worked on his cars, fixed stuff and did some remodeling around the house. Among his favorite tools was an old ShopSmith machine. He loved doing leather work and playing his guitar for fun. He really enjoyed listening to Lynyrd Skynyrd and Santana, among others. He was also involved in the Boy Scouts and became a troop leader.

Ron was a family man. He had one younger sister, was married three times and had three kids and two step-kids, not including myself. I didn't get to hear many stories about them, but what I did hear was pride in having raised a good family.

 

Ron was also a huge dog person. He cared for a couple of Corgis from birth up until they passed away a few years before him. He loved those dogs and walked them every day. I could see they gave him great joy.

Before I met Ron, he had gone through surgery to have a tumor removed from his spine. My mother helped him get around as he healed. This surgery is what eventually caused his characteristic 'hunched backed' posture in the years to follow. He recovered well, and we met thereafter in 2012 when he asked for my blessing to marry my mother. He didn't have to, but he did so anyway. I respected that, and I was happy to see them unite. They had so many plans. But their plans were soon cut short after marriage when Ron got diagnosed with advanced stage lymphoma. Chemo and radiation treatments followed. This caused his extreme weight loss. Ron was determined to beat the odds, and soon he was cancer free. Despite his more fragile state, Ron lived his life as happy as he could. Routine and structured. Just the way he liked it. He kept his mind busy, doing projects around the house, maintaining the car, working on his computer and watching YouTube videos. Of course, he never missed a chance to walk around the neighborhood and chat with folks along the way.

 

Ron, my mother, and I moved to San Antonio in the summer of 2019. At that time we were all doing well. Ron was upbeat, cancer in remission, feeling excited, ready to explore a new hometown. And that he did, starting with the neighborhood. As soon as we were all settled into our new home and Ron figured out where he packed his shoes, he was out the door.

Ron loved to explore. Each day he would walk a little further into the neighborhood. Walking up hill was the hardest part, but he stuck to it and accepted the challenge until it was no longer an issue. He ventured into the new homes being built, snuck into the community behind us while the fences were down, and picked up construction debris from the streets. He felt so good when he was finally able to walk all the way to the community front entrance park and back.

 

Ron especially loved getting to meet people in the neighborhood while on his walks. He was overjoyed to discover so many nice folks living among us. He said almost no day would pass without some kind neighbor slowing down in their car beside him, asking if he needed water or a ride home.

 

Ron was a people person. And people loved him. He made friends with the older neighbors as well as the younger. He knew the neighbors by name and even memorized their dog's names. He went to HOA meetings, park events and neighborhood parties when he could. He contributed regularly on the Nextdoor app, posting funny comments, questions, replies and stuff for sale. Ron was typically the way my mother and I learned about the neighborhood, being that we're basically night owls and home bodies and don't get out much. But not Ron.

 

Every morning around 7am, and sometimes in the afternoon, Ron could be found on the front porch having his coffee, eating breakfast or lunch and reading the latest news on his tablet or phone. He got to greet the neighbors as they left. Others would walk or jog by and say hello. Some would stop and chat for a bit. He even got to know the garbage man. I know this made his day.

We made a list of all the places we wanted to visit in San Antonio. In the first year we did some touristy things like drive around downtown, see the Alamo, visit the River Walk and take a boat ride. Ron and I became hiking buddies, exploring historic sites like Comanche Lookout and Canyon Lake Gorge. We went on the tours and hiked the trails. It was a lot of fun and Ron was a great companion. People often stared at him, I believe, impressed how a man at his age and physical stature could be out hiking in the rough. I know I was. He was a great inspiration. I hoped I would be doing the same when I reached his age.

 

Sadly, when the covid pandemic intensified and the shutdown happened, it put our visit list on hold. No eating out, no hiking, no exploring, no fun trips. We had to make do at home, as did everyone else for a time. Ron kept walking the neighborhood. He started playing his guitar again. He was taking Spanish lessons. Ron kept in touch with his younger sister Becky, and she would always visit every chance she could. Ron was content. His overall spirit was fine, but his physical health started to deteriorate once again.

Ron Hiking the Gorge

(More videos coming soon)

Ron's lymphoma relapsed. But this time found in its early stages, limited to the lymph nodes around his jaw. Treatment was postponed due to the pandemic. His condition was very easily manageable and not lifestyle altering. What did start to affect him, however, were the other things. Kidney stones, skin legions, bleeding issues, edema, loss of energy and muscle weakness. His hearing and balance were also deteriorating. What doctors tried made little difference. We never got an answer as to why he was breaking down so badly. Ron just blamed old age. Despite everything, Ron pushed forward and lived his life the best he could.

 

Ron continued to walk the neighborhood, although each time becoming more difficult. He could only walk so much before having to turn back. But, he was not alone. Often, I would see him returning home accompanied by a neighbor until they made it to the driveway. He was a proud man. He didn't like asking for help, like most men. But, I know he appreciated it any time he got it.

Slideshow of Ron's Life Moments

(More photos coming soon)

Neighbors continued to help. While my mother and I did our best to attend to Ron, I wasn't always around and my mother wasn't always able to help when needed. Neighbors helped Ron in so many ways. Helping him up the stairs, picking him up when he stumbled, getting him into a wheelchair, offering to build a wheelchair ramp, lending him a walker, keeping him hydrated, providing encouragement and so much more. Neighbors... you know who you are. My mother and I will be forever grateful for your kindness and assistance during this difficult time.

 

Unfortunately, Ron's condition went from bad to worse really fast. He had lost almost all the strength in his leg muscles, and a diabetic induced foot abscess soon landed him in the hospital for emergency surgery. He needed to have his lower leg amputated. Thankfully, the surgery went well. I talked to him on the phone. He seemed in good spirits. He was excited about showing off a new prosthetic to the neighbors really soon. It made me smile. And, I did all I could to reinforce his enthusiasm. My mom and I started making accommodations at home to welcome him and make it easier for him.

 

While in post-surgery recovery, Ron ended up catching Covid-19. Since he was already in the hospital, they were able to administer treatment very quickly. He fought for a few days, but was ultimately unable to fight it off completely. Ron succumbed to complications from Covid on October, 21, 2021.

As prepared and organized as Ron liked to be, he pre-planned and paid for his funeral arrangements years ago. His remains were eventually flown to California and laid to rest beside his parents at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery with military honors. His flag made it back to my mother shortly thereafter.

 

In a heartfelt conversation with Ron one day, while working in the garage, he said he worried if he'd ever be remembered. He wasn't really close to his kids or grandkids. He wondered about his legacy. I said something like... you did the best you could for your kids. Every good thing your kids or grandkids or their kids ever do in life will be part of your legacy. And, the time we spent together will always be remembered by me. The projects, the hikes, the talks. And, don't forget all the neighbors whose lives were touched because one day you came around and said, 'hello'.

 

I designed this memoriam to help keep Ron's memory alive. To share his story with friends and strangers. And maybe one day, when his kids, grandkids or their kids go searching and find it, they will get a glimpse of this one of a kind man. His life, his struggles, his love. Never perfect, always genuine.

 

Ron Peugh was technically my step-father, but more than anything, he was my friend. He will forever be missed.

My mother and I extend a big thank you to all our neighbors who left flowers, cards, food, doorbell messages and posts on Nextdoor and Facebook extending your heartfelt sympathy and kindness during our time of mourning. It will never be forgotten.