Ronald Keith Hart's Obituary
Ronald Keith Hart, devoted husband, father and friend to many, died September 19, 2012 at Hope Hospice after a valiant battle with bone cancer. He was born in Radcliffe, Ia., October 4, 1931, as the youngest of seven children born to Inez and Henry Hart. An avid sportsman, Ron lettered in three sports at Urbandale High School in Des Moines, Ia., and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs for the minor league team.?á But it was wartime and Ron wanted to serve his country so he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.?á As a Quarter-master, he sailed destroyers and mine sweepers and helped to install the Distant Early Warning System near the North Pole, earning several medals. After active duty, he returned to Iowa, where he met his wife of 56 years, Harriet Ann Turner.?á Ron and Harriet were married January 22, 1956, in Des Moines.?á He worked at Meredith Publishing Co., while Harriet cared for their three young children. The family moved to Fort Myers in 1962 to be near Harriet?ÇÖs parents. Ron was a successful advertising executive with WMYR Radio, L.M. Berry Co., and LCEC before his retirement, which turned out to be short-lived. When Harriet purchased Tri-Travel Agency in Fort Myers, Ron was recruited from retirement to help her in the agency, which they ran together until she sold it in 1999.?á Ron never liked to be idle so he worked part-time as marketing director of Weather Control Air Conditioning, which he continued until illness made it impossible for him to continue. Ron was a past president of the Rotary Club of North Fort Myers and he was a member for many years until the family moved to South Fort Myers, where he became an active member of Rotary South.?á He also was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Harriet; sons, Charles Hart (Dawn) of Winter Garden,?á Paul Hart (Katherine) of North Fort Myers ; daughter, Anne Marie Martel of Fort Myers; sister-in-law, Susan Bennett (Phil) of Fort Myers; seven grandchildren, Aimee Martel, Christina Hart, Charles Hart, Jr, Ronnie Hart, Taylor Pledger, Ashlee Hart and Katie Hart; and four loving cats. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Paul de-Jong at 11 a.m., Saturday, September 29, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers, 2438 Second St. Visitation will be held Friday, September 28, 2012 from 6-8 PM at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Blvd. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Ron?ÇÖs memory to First Presbyterian of Fort Myers. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.fortmyersmemorial.com.
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