Ronald F. Davis

Ronald F. Davis

Ron was born August 13, 1933, in Akron, Ohio, to Ford and Dorothy Davis. He attended Marlboro (Ohio) grade school and high school, and earned a bachelor of business administration degree from Ohio University, where he met the beautiful Mary Lawrence, who would be his wife for 60 years. After graduating in 1955, the couple married. Ron then served in the United States Air Force, receiving flight training in Georgia, and subsequently stationed in Mississippi and Arizona, where he learned to fly the F-86 fighter. In 1958, Ron and Mary moved to Hartville, Ohio, and Ron took charge of Buckeye Packaging Company, a plastics manufacturing firm his father had started. Ron built the company from three employees to 50 and served customers throughout the Midwest.

Ron enjoyed watching and participating in sports and was an avid fan at his grandchildren’s sporting events. He played golf and tennis, and loved to water ski and snow ski. For more than 20 years he made an annual fishing trip to Canada with buddies, most particularly Jim Donachy, John Moore, Tom Kuhn, Ronnie Givens, and Reg Givens. Ron enjoyed traveling, especially exploring the United States. Flying was a particular passion for Ron, and he was game for any excuse to get in the cockpit, whether it was to fly south for vacation or to a neighboring town for breakfast. He landed a plane in every one of the 50 states, culminating with Hawaii on July 4, 2019. His feat made the Honolulu evening news and was picked up by media across the country. If he wasn’t flying, Ron might be driving a convertible, piloting a speedboat, or racing around on a motorcycle. He loved to go fast, and he never lost his appetite for adventure. To celebrate his 90th birthday, he went skydiving with four of his grandchildren.

Ron served on Hartville City Council and was a member of the Hartville Lions Club, which he served as president. He was also a member of Faith United Methodist Church in North Canton and of Congress Lake Club in Hartville. Ron was always prepared to give of his time and resources to others, from teaching grandchildren to ski, to transporting patients in need of medical treatment as a volunteer pilot for Angel Flights, to devoting years of his life to care for Mary when she contracted progressive supranuclear palsy. Ron loved people, finding common ground with everyone he met. He had boundless energy for getting the most out of life; and even on vacations, the household woke to the sound of his voice saying, “Rise and shine – daylight’s a burning!”

Ron’s beloved wife, Mary, died November 3, 2015. He was also preceded in death by sister and brother-in-law Nadine and Jim Donachy.

Ron is survived by daughters Laurie (Robert) Brlas and Deborah Davis (Stanley Wearden), and son John Davis; brother David (Doris) Davis; sisters-in-law Jane (David) Cope and Helen (Michael) Cope; grandchildren Jeremy (Erin) Stoll, Rachel (Sean) Fuller, Henry and George (Kristen) Curtis, Ron (Nicole Kline), Colin, and Jack Davis, Katherine Wearden, Emily (Nic) Santana, and Joseph Wearden; great-grandchildren Lily Stoll, Isaac Davis, and Maribel Curtis; and special friend Jeanne McLeod.

Ron and his family are forever grateful to Anna Steele for her love and compassion.

Calling hours will be Friday, October 9, 2026, from 4-6 PM at the Arnold Funeral Home in Hartville and Saturday from 10-11 AM at Faith United Methodist Church. Memorial services will begin at 11 AM with Pastor Tom Kalb officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Faith United Methodist Church, 300 9th St NW, North Canton OH 44720; or to Cure PSP, a progressive supranuclear palsy research organization.