Obituary: Ronald H. Barksdale, 78

Ronald H. Barksdale, 78, of Beacon Falls, passed away on Sunday, April 21, 2013, at Griffin Hospital after a courageous battle with respiratory fibrosis.  He was the husband of Marion (Blyman) Barksdale. Mr. Barksdale was born in Princeton, N.J. on Sept. 28, 1934, a son of the late Herman and Catherine (Sullivan) Barksdale.  He was a longtime New Jersey resident before moving to Beacon Falls in 1979.

He graduated from Princeton High School where he was a member of the Hall of Fame for Track and Field.  He was peacetime veteran, serving in the U.S. Army and a graduate of Rider University.  He worked for various companies including RAF Electronic Hardware and most recently a custodian for Laurel Ledge School.  He was a communicant of St. Michael’s Church and served as past president of the Men’s Club.  He also served as past president of the New England Sports Collectors Association, past secretary of Seymour Pop Warner, coached Little League, and ran the Fishing Rodeo for more than 20 years in Beacon Falls. He was and avid outdoorsman, fisherman, and Philadelphia Sports fan. He was a friend of Bill W. for more than 30 years.

Besides his wife, he leaves his sons, Chuck Barksdale, Gregory Barksdale and his wife Nicole all of Beacon Falls; his two sisters, Joan Grant of Plainsboro, N.J., and Mary Jablonski of New Egypt, N.J.; his three beloved grandchildren, Breanna, Chuck, and Ronald J. Barksdale; and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 25, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael’s Church, 25 Maple Ave., Beacon Falls.  Friends are asked to meet directly at the church at 10:15 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow in St. James Cemetery, Cross Street, Naugatuck.  Calling hours will be held at the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main St., Naugatuck on Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m.  Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

To send an on-line condolence, please visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com