Ronald D. Stewart, 71, of Bellefontaine, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, at his residence.
He was born in Bellefontaine on Feb. 29, 1948, the son of the late Junior D. Stewart and Mildred (Hatcher) Hoylman.
On March 8, 1969, in Zanesfield, he married Patricia Jane (Swisher) Stewart, and she preceded him in death on July 7, 2019. He was also preceded in death by his stepmom, Pat Stewart.
He is survived by a daughter, Angie (Jason) Smith of Bellefontaine; son, J.R. (Bryn) Stewart of Bellefontaine; grandchildren, Lacy and Will Smith, and Paxton and Crosley Stewart; a half-sister; Kim (Fred ‘Duane’) Meek of Bellefontaine, two half-brothers, Scott (Nancy) Stewart of Bellefontaine and Mark (Nancy) Stewart of Wapakoneta, two brothers-in-law; Ed (Karen) Swisher and Ray (Kris) Swisher, both of Bellefontaine, and many nieces and nephews.
Ron graduated from West Liberty-Salem High School in 1966 and went on to serve in the Air Force reserves. Ron worked in sales most of his career, selling cars for Daring Chevrolet before opening Wheel World in Bellefontaine in 1978. He then worked for Dinovo Chrysler, Nelson Auto Group and Steve Austin’s Auto Group, from where he retired.
Ron loved racing of all kinds, but he most enjoyed watching his son, J.R. race, and in the last couple years, watching his grandson, Will and granddaughter, Paxton race. In his younger years, Ron raced Quarter Midgets and was the 1960 National Champion. He was inducted into the Mac-O-Chee Quarter Midget Hall of Fame in 2009.
A visitation will be conducted Friday, Dec. 6, 2019 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 321 N. Main Street, Bellefontaine.
Pastor Bryan Meadows officiates a funeral service at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7th at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Cemetery in West Liberty with military honors provided by the Logan County Veteran Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mac-O-Chee Quarter Midget Hall of Fame, 3324 Clark Road., Urbana, Ohio, 43078.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Bellefontaine and online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.edsfh.com.