Ronald Frederick Henthorn

On Wednesday, February 1st, 2023, Sergeant Major Ronald F. Henthorn, US Army, Retired, of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away after a long battle with cancer, surrounded by family. Ronald was born in New Haven, Connecticut and attended Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport. After attending the University of Bridgeport for one year, he enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 18. During his 25 year career in the military, he served in Vietnam, earned a bachelor’s degree from Troy University, attended Foreign Language School in California, was assigned to several different overseas postings, and was dedicated to serving his country. Included among the many service medals, ribbons, and commendations that he earned were the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, and the Joint Service Commendation medal. In 1965, Ron met Melba, the love of his life, on a blind date in Huntsville, Alabama. Six months later, they married on October 1st, 1965, and spent the next 57 years together as best friends and adoring partners. His love for Melba ran very deep. Together they had two daughters, Stephanie and Christina, and a granddaughter Samantha. Ron was excited that he was soon going to be Pop-Pop to great granddaughter Brynlee Nicole. A dedicated family man who cherished his loved ones, he was generous with his love and time. Ron’s military service took the family overseas to both Bulgaria and Korea, as well as multiple state side postings. After retiring from the military and choosing Tallahassee as their home, Ron went to work as the associate registrar at Florida State University. During his 20 years with Florida State, he earned a master’s degree in Public Administration. Ron was an avid reader, enjoyed his daily crossword puzzles, and building wooden model ships. Adult coloring became a passion for him later in life, and his completed pictures look like professional prints. He loved to fish and spent a great deal of time at St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, catching and releasing. Watching and observing the wildlife at St. Marks was also a favorite pastime. Ron loved to tell entertaining stories that may or may not have been true, but they were always an experience. Ron’s other true love was his tri-pod Chocolate Lab Bo. They would take daily walks through the neighborhood and had matching limps. Bo was a constant and loyal companion for Ron in retirement. After serving in the military, traveling was in his blood. He and Melba loved to cruise and take road trips. Cedar Key, the north Georgia mountains, and St. Pete Beach were favored locations. The annual summer family trip to St. Pete Beach became a much anticipated event every year. The friends that were met there from other states quickly became family. After 38 years and counting, our beach family deeply loved and respected Ron. In June of 2022, Ron was able to achieve a desired bucket list item and took the family back to Alaska. He visited Denali National Park, took a glass-top train ride through breathtaking Alaskan scenery, and finished it off with a cruise along the Inside Passage. He is deeply loved and will be missed in many ways, great and small. Ron was preceded in death by his father John Edward Henthorn and mother Elva Louise Henthorn. Ron is survived by his beloved wife Melba, daughters Stephanie White (Holly) and Christina Henthorn, granddaughter Samantha Murray (Ryan), brothers Jack and Larry, and sister Patricia. A service honoring the life of Ronald will be held at the Tallahassee National Cemetery on Wednesday, February 8th, 2023, at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge www.stmarksrefuge.org. Susie Mozolic of Bevis Funeral Home (www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the family with the arrangements.

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Ronald Frederick Henthorn

February 24, 1939 - February 1, 2023