Obituary of Ronlyn Starr Smith

Ronlyn S. Smith On Monday, January 31, 2022, Ronlyn (Ron) Starr Smith, loving husband, father, and grandfather, peacefully passed away at the age of 78 surrounded by family. Ron was born on September 30, 1943, in Danville, Illinois to Frank and Mary (Starr) Smith. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from the University of Illinois, Champagne, in 1966. On June 20, 1970, he married Mary Ann Quigley in Waukegan, Illinois. They settled in Wheeling, Illinois, and raised three children, Suzanne, Ronlyn, and Melanie. Ron was a career chemist in the paint industry working for several companies over the years. He started his career working in the labs developing paint color formulations and worked his way into building out the paint aerosol lines as this part of the industry grew. Ron had a rich life full of many awesome experiences. As a child and young adult, he was an active member of Central Christian Church in Danville, IL. He was a decorated Boy Scout, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He often talked about his Scouting experiences, from his hiking trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico to attending the Boy Scout Jamboree in Valley Forge, PA. He always attributed his love for cooking to what he learned in Boy Scouts. As a teenager and through college, Ron was also a musician. He played the tenor saxophone in the Danville High School band and was talented enough to join the Danville Municipal Band, as well as fill in for dance bands. Ron was an Illini fan through and through, attending the University of Illinois from 1961 to 1966. While there, he was part of the Delta Chi Fraternity and even attended the Rose Bowl to cheer on his team! Through Ron’s teens and his adult life, he was an avid golfer. For most of his career, he was a scratch golfer…playing and winning tournaments was his weekend hobby. He even tried out for the US Open and missed the cut by ONE stroke! He made many friends during his time on the golf course. Ron also enjoyed bowling and bowled in several leagues over the years. Of course, Ron also enjoyed spending time with his wife and their children and grandchildren over the years. From teaching them how to golf or bowl, playing a card game, to cheering them on at a football, hockey, or soccer game, he enjoyed his times with them. He was an adoring husband to Mary Ann and will be remembered as a smart man whose company was enjoyed by all. Ron was preceded in death by his father, Frank, and his mother Mary. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; sister, Annabeth (Jim) Gilmour of Danville, IL; children, Suzanne Blalock of Mendon, MA, Ronlyn (Shelly) Smith of Mesa, AZ, and Melanie (Joseph) Niedzwiedz of Cary, Illinois; grandchildren, Joshua Blalock, Sophia Blalock, Greyson Blalock, Cody Easterday, Jessica (Brian) Elston, Cody Smith (Tianna Gleason), Nicole Smith, Jessica (Bob) Hopkins, Jenna (Zac) Menue, Alyssa (Payden) Howard, and McKenna Niedzwiedz; 5 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL 60099 from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm, followed by a short service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alpha-1 Foundation by visiting www.alpha1.org/donate or by mailing to the following address: Alpha-1 Foundation, 3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33134.