Ronald Lykens Obituary
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Ronald Lykens (Gahanna, Ohio), born in Somerville, Ohio, who passed away on November 14, 2018, at the age of 81, leaving to mourn family and friends. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family.
He is survived by: his parents, Walter E. Lykens and Phyllis Hayes Lykens.
His mother was not typically an early riser but this day she was! "FIRE FIRE FIRE, she yelled from the front porch! Ron graduated from Salem-Oak Harbor High School in 1955. Although he did not attend college right away, he was determined to continue his education. For two decades he took night classes at the local college. Through the years, he attended the Universities of Toledo and Virginia, Patrick Henry College in Martinsville, VA and Montgomery College in Rockville, MD. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, OH in 1980, the same year his youngest son graduated high school. He went on to earn his Master of Business Administration from Baldwin-Wallace in 1983. Ron was the love of Pam's life. They met in Columbus, Ohio and were married for 33 years. They had a wonderful life together although their health eventually brought on many challenges and disappointments. Ron is also survived by his first wife, Joanne Ross Lykens and their three children; Margit Curtright of Boise, ID, Everett Lykens of Westerville, OH and Brent, and his wife Cheryl, of Zionsville, IN. He will also be missed by his two step-daughters; Jill Campbell and her husband Eric, of Gahanna, OH and Jana Ambrose and her husband Aaron, of Delaware, OH. Ron was blessed with several grandchildren: Jackie, Kristy, Ryan and Heidi Lykens, Andrew and Emerson Curtright, Ethan Ambrose, and Daisy, Lilly and Lola Campbell, as well as several great-grandchildren. He also is survived by his brother, Tom and Becky Lykens of WA and sister, Judy, and her husband Len Rhonehouse of GA. His family brought him great joy over the years. He instilled in them the love of sports; together they would root on The Ohio State Buckeyes in football & basketball, the Cleveland Indians, and even the Cleveland Browns. One of his favorite pastimes was watching his grand-daughters play softball. He had a fondness of stock car and NASCAR racing – Margit, Ev, and Brent spent many Saturdays watching the original Petty blue race car at Martinsville race track. He was an avid reader and loved taking pictures as an amateur photographer. He was a great bowler back in the day. Ron was a surrogate father and mentor to many — offering an ear, keen interest, support and appreciation to many young people. Ron was a valued community leader. His strong convictions, strategic mind, and compassionate heart fueled his work to transform his community. He was interested in creating and improving social systems to respond to the needs of people. His beliefs in the dignity and worth of children led him to become active in the PA Foster Parent Assoc., the Child Welfare Assoc. of USA, the Virginia Foster Parent Association, and the Cuyahoga County, Ohio Foster Parent Assoc. He was, along with his first wife, Joanne, a foster parent to over thirty children. As an involved citizen, Ron chaired the Danville, VA & Pittsylvania County Young Republican Assoc., and he ran as the first Republican candidate for Virginia House of Delegates in 30 years. He was also active in the Jaycees of Danville, VA. In Ohio, he was a member of the City of Westerville Board of Education. He served as treasurer of The Lutheran Church of The Ascension, Danville, VA and Deacon of Good Samaritan Church in Gahanna, OH. Over the years, Ron was also a member of the National Assoc. of Stock Car Racing, the American Society of Lubrication Engineers, and the Social Committee of Indian Springs Country Club, Broken Arrow, OK. After 34 years, Ron retired as a project manager from CITGO International in Tulsa, OK. He went on, however, to work as a Realtor in Columbus, OH for HER Realtors and RE/MAX. He also was a District Manager for HMS Home Warranties in Sandusky, OH. The man did not know what it meant to truly retire! Ron was warm and engaging with family, friends and community members but also enjoyed private time. He found peace and passion for world travel. On his yearly excursions with his family to Cocoa Beach, FL, his favorite activity was to sit and read on the beach. He also enjoyed watching NASA shuttle missions lifting off over the seas of the Atlantic, often riding bikes with his family to the locks, watching fuel boosters returning to Cape Canaveral and cruise ships return to port. An occasional manatee spotting was a favorite, too. Family and community were important to Ron. In both spheres, he was a patriarch. Rooted in the values and customs of other generations, he was also in tune with contemporary issues. His ability to connect with others and to appreciate and create abundance is a gift to us all. A celebration of his life will be held at New Life Church Gahanna, 3690 Stygler Rd., Gahanna, OH 43230 on Saturday, December 1st, 2018 at 11 AM followed by a reception. Pastor Steve Benninger officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ron's memory to Capital City Hospice, 2800 Corporate Exchange Drive, Columbus, OH 43231, 614-441-9300. The hospice nurses that cared for him in his last days were absolute angels and brought great peace and comfort to the family. Each and every one has a special calling and mission of their own. Thank you for taking care of our "Poppie" and bringing him honor and dignity during his home-going process! A special thanks to our favorite nurses and staff at The Arbors of Delaware who treated him like family. We love you all & our lives are forever changed by you!
