Ronald Thompson McMillian

Mr. Ronald Thompson McMillian, 75, of Mount Airy, passed into God's hands on Wednesday, November 30, 2011. He died peacefully at his home. The earth lost a magnificent man and a man who was adored by his family and friends. Ronald was a very devoted husband, father, grandfather, Christian, and employee. His wonderful sense of humor and his very outgoing personality made him a joy to all who met him. His unparalleled work ethic made him an excellent employee. He began his career at Renfro where he met his wife, Mary. After being drafted into the Army, he was assigned the job of assistant chaplain. He took this job very seriously and still spoke often and fondly of his time at Fort Benning. Upon returning home, he was hired by Moody Funeral Home as an ambulance driver. A short while later, he was hired by Retail Credit Company and worked many long and difficult hours there for 30 years, never complaining and always saying how lucky he was to have the job. As a second job he also worked for Food Lion where he often played Santa. His favorite job came later in life when he went back to school at Forsyth Tech to become a funeral director. He helped many families over the last 20 years at Moody Funeral Home. He was always very thankful to the Moody family and loved his co-workers there. While his daughters were in school, he always supported their endeavors. He served as PTA president at Franklin Elementary School for several years and his daughters' friends called him "Mr. America." At North Surry High School, he worked with the band boosters and never missed a performance by his girls. When they both started college at UNC-Chapel Hill, he worked endlessly to make sure they had all they needed, and did the same during their graduate school years. All it took was a phone call and he would come to their rescue. At Haymore Memorial Baptist Church, Ronald served as RA Director, Sunday School Superintendent, Brotherhood President, and Deacon for many years. He had many dear friends at Haymore Memorial Baptist Church, Dover Baptist Church, and Flat Rock Baptist Church. Ronald was a member of the Franklin Ruritan Club, the Mount Airy Lions Club, and the Round Peak Masonic Lodge #616 AF and AM. He was very proud of the work all of these organizations did, and loved volunteering his time to help. One of his passions was sports. He played baseball, basketball, football, and ran track at Flat Rock High School. He continued playing baseball after high school with the local teams. He was a very passionate Tarheels fan, even before his daughters attended school there. He attended many football, basketball, and baseball games there with his family. On Saturday, November 26, 2011, he attended the UNC football game with his whole family and had a marvelous time watching Carolina beat Duke. Ronald was born May 13, 1936, in Surry County, to Lacy and Hazel Sutphin McMillian. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Bessie Sawyers; a brother-in-law, Hoover Sawyers; his step-mother, Ethel Loftis McMillian; and a special aunt, Lillian King. The loves of his life were his wife and twin daughters. Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Mary Wagoner McMillian of the home; his two twin daughters, Alison McMillian-Goodman of Greensboro and Marisa Tomasic, Pittsburgh, PA; two sons-in-law, John Goodman and Scott Tomasic; four grandchildren, Lindsey Noelle Tomasic, John Wesley Tomasic, Max Thompson McMillian-Goodman, and Lee Phillips McMillian-Goodman; and a step-grandaughter, Kathleen Goodman. Also surviving are a brother, Jimmy McMillian and a sister-in-law, Jayne McMillian of Mount Airy; a sister, Mary Ellen Tolbert of Mount Airy; several nieces; one nephew; several great nieces and nephews; and many dear, dear friends. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Saturday, December 3, 2011, at Haymore Memorial Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. J. Cecil Hill and the Rev. Robert McCrary. Entombment will follow at the Skyline Memory Gardens Mausoleum. The family will receive friends 9:30 am Saturday until the time of the service at Haymore Memorial Baptist Church. Donations of remembrance can be made to the Franklin Ruritan Club, c/o Philip Nichols, 136 Brentwood Drive, Mount Airy, NC 27030 or the Mount Airy Lions Club, c/o Joe Bill Woodruff, P.O. Box 503, Mount Airy, NC 27030.