Ronald B. Haynes, 75, of Junction City, Kansas, passed away on Friday,
February 17, 2023. A graveside service with military honors will take
place on Friday, February 24, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., at Kansas Veterans'
Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Knights Templar Eye
Foundation, 3201 Cross Timbers Road, Bldg 4, Ste 300, Flower Mound, TX
75028.
He was born on August 10, 1947, in Chanute, Kansas, to
Byrle and Ruth (Patton) Haynes. Ronald spent his whole childhood in
Chanute, Kansas, and graduated from Chanute High School in 1966. On
January 16, 1967, he and his twin brother, Donald, joined the United
States Navy. Together, they served aboard the USS Oriskany aircraft
working the integrated weapons system during the Vietnam conflict.
After
being discharged from the Navy, he moved to Santa Maria, California.
Ronald started his own electrical business called "R and D Electrical",
worked at Mighty Motors, then as a mechanic at Ted R. Smith Aerostar.
Santa Maria is where he met the love of his life, Donna Squires. They
got married in 1975 and moved to Junction City, Kansas, where they made
their home. After moving to Junction City, he continued his electrical
business “R and D Electrical” later renamed “Lamplighter Electric”. Over
the years, Ronald worked for the Foundry, Whitaker Cable, and Woolworth
Distribution Center. He installed many electronic gates and alarm
systems for Tri City Fence and Kansas Fence. Ronald also did electrical
work for IHOP restaurants. Ronald began his Civil Service career on Fort
Riley in 1979. He started as an electrician and worked his way into the
Electrical Engineering Department. Ronald retired from his career in
2001, after 22 years of service.
Ronald and his wife, Donna, were
members of the Santa Maria Saddleites Motorcycle Club when they lived
in California. Ronald served as a Deputy Reserve Officer with the Geary
County Sheriff's Department for 25 years. He and his wife were also
apart of the Geary County Sheriff's Mounted Posse until it disbanded.
Ronald was a lifetime member of the VFW, having recieved the "Quilt of
Valor" on September 15, 2019.
In his free time, he loved
watching John Wayne movies and hanging out at Stacy's or IHOP drinking
coffee. Anybody that knew Ron, knows that he had a story for everyone
and every occasion. His stories will be greatly missed by his friends
and family.
Ronald is survived by his wife of 47 years,
Donna; step daughter, Christy (Bobby) Svedeen; step grandson, Michael
(Francis) McKeague; step great-granchildren, Elizabeth, Emily, and
Richard; twin brother, Donald "Don" (Helen) Haynes; sister, Emma
(Vernon) Manion; brother-in-law, Jay (Roseanna) Squires; many treasured
nieces and nephews; and his "fur babies," Molly, Binkee, and Tabasco.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Lois, Margaret, and Carol.