Obituary of Ronald K. Ely, Sr.

Ronald K. Ely Sr., of Jackson, NJ, passed away on December 3, 2023, peacefully surrounded by family.  Born in Long Branch to Kenneth and Kathryn Ely, Ron grew up in Adelphia, graduating from Freehold High School in 1951.  As a young man, he played football and baseball throughout high school; Ron’s proudest athletic accomplishment was getting three hits off famed New York Yankee Whitey Ford in a game at Fort Monmouth.

Ron served the country as a member of the United States Naval Construction Battalions, a unit of the Navy better known as Seabees, and he was a proud veteran of the Korean War. The Seabees motto – “Can Do!” – is an attitude Ron adopted throughout his life.

For 38 years, Ron worked for Jersey Central Power and Light.  He was a coach for both West Neptune Minor League Baseball and Neptune Pop Warner Football.  Ron also served as a member on the Neptune Township Board of Education and on the Neptune Township Committee.  As an esteemed career highlight, Ron held the title of Deputy Mayor for Neptune Township.

For the majority of his life, Ron served as a volunteer fireman.  Ron volunteered at Shark River Hills Fire Department, ultimately becoming Chief.  He also served at Hamilton First Aid and the Hamilton Fire Department. Even after retirement, Ron remained an active member of his communities both in New Jersey and in his second home in Bonita Springs, Florida.  He was a member of the Board of Directors at the Bonita Beach and Tennis Club for many years. Ron lived and raised his family in Shark River Hills for forty years, and well into his 80s could be found hunting, playing tennis or pickleball, body surfing, and fixing everything and anything around the house.

Above all else, Ron’s greatest achievement is his family.  Ron is survived by his devoted wife of 69 years, Dorothy Ely; his three children, Ronald K. Ely Jr. (Kandy) of Boise, ID, Cyndy Gohl O’Loughlin (Brian) of Jackson, NJ and Johns Island, SC, and Dianne Steimel (Jack) of Wall, NJ; his seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Wednesday, December 6,2023 from 3:00 to 6:30 PM with his funeral service to follow. Inurnment will take place at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery, 350 Province Line Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562. lieu of flowers, donations in Ron’s name can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation https://www.jdrf.org/donate/ . For information, directions, or condolence messages to the family, visit www. claytonfuneralhome.com.