Ronald Gene Grimmer

Ronald Gene Grimmer passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, April 15, 2023 and is now with his Lord and Savior. He was born in Cincinnati on December 14, 1936, to Verna Virginia (née Kaufmann) and George Fredrick Grimmer, and was the grandson of Mayme Rose (née Altman) and John George Kaufmann. Ron is survived by his wife, Marcia Ann (née Droste) of 63 years, his daughter, Lynn Stephanie (née Grimmer) Johnson, and his son, Kevin Ashley (Sarah) Grimmer. He was the loving grandfather of Courtney Ann, McKenna Caroline, and Ryan Cameron Johnson and William Droste and Ashley Jane Grimmer. Ron’s profound love and devotion to his family will have an everlasting impact.                                                                        

Ron graduated from Withrow High School in 1954. He attended Princeton University and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1959. He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Officer Candidate School with the rank of ensign in 1960, and was assigned to the Coast Guard Base at Portland, Maine aboard the USCGC Cook Inlet. He completed tours in the Ocean Station Bravo in the North Atlantic Ocean; Hamilton, Bermuda; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and Portland, Maine. He would continue his service as a reserve officer for 23 years, attaining the rank of captain and carrying out his duties as commanding officer and group commander of reserve units in Cincinnati, Louisville, Ky., Owensboro, Ky., and Paducah, Ky.

Upon return to Cincinnati, he received an MBA from Xavier University in 1964 while working for General Electric. He then joined the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a revenue agent, prior to entering the Salmon P. Chase College of Law where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1970. Ron applied his legal knowledge as Chief of Appeals in the Appellate Division of the IRS, retiring after 45 years of dedicated service.

The activity Ron enjoyed the most was captaining his O’Day DaySailer, “The Cook Inlette,” at Cowan Lake. He also spent many hours on the links at Miami View Golf Course. The CSO, various theater productions, and attending Reds and Bengals games were also favorites of his, along with casual table games, pool, and putting on fireworks shows with family and friends. Over the years he dedicated countless hours to the Kiwanis Club, the Navy League, the Withrow High School Alumni Association, and Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. Ron was an active member of the Westwood United Methodist Church where he served in many capacities. His commitment to service, generous spirit, and dry sense of humor will be profoundly missed.

Burial at Spring Grove Cemetery before the funeral service at 9:45AM.

Visitation will be held at Westwood United Methodist Church, 3460 Epworth Avenue, on Saturday, April 22 from 11:00 AM until time of funeral service at 12:30 PM.

Charitable donations may be made to Westwood United Methodist Church, Kiwanis Club of Cheviot and Westwood, or the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.