RON WILEY

Return to the Tribute to Ron page.

Roger Wiley, Ron's older brother contributed the following.

Ronald L. Wiley (86), of Oxford, passed away (04/22/2024) at The Knolls of Oxford.

Ron was born October 4, 1937 at Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, OH during the 1937 flood.  His parents were Raymond K. and Emma Matilene (Cartwright) Wiley, his older brother Roger (survives, living in Georgia.)

At less than one year of age the family moved to Darrtown, OH, where he put down what would become roots that flourished in the village for many years. His boyhood was nurtured by several Darrtown natives, the most important mentor being Dale Bufler.  Dale led a group of Darrtown boys in many learning experiences and projects, including scrap and paper drives during WWII, raising money to buy uniforms for baseball and basketball teams that toured Butler County, playing teams from other towns and rural schools.  He took them to Clark’s Sporting Goods store in Hamilton, where they stretched their money and bought the least expensive basketball shirts available.  They were purple; thus, the team came up with the mascot name, the Darrtown Purple Skunks.

He attended Collinsville through the sixth grade, then Jr. High and Sr. High School at Seven Mile HS (later becoming Edgewood), graduating in 1955.

He then attended Miami University, graduating in 1959 with a B.S. in Ed. Degree, majoring in Comprehensive Science.  He was a member of Kappa Phi Kappa, men’s Education Fraternity, and was named their Outstanding Senior Man in 1959. He taught Biology at Talawanda HS for three years. On June 18, 1961 he married Linda Hartley of Piqua, OH.  She passed away on October 6, 1980. Their son Matthew Eric was born, November 28, 1965. He lives in Concho Valley, Arizona.

On August 15, 1981 he married Kathryn Young, of a longstanding Oxford family of business owners and Miami graduates. They enjoyed travels to historic American sites, European trips and yearly vacations at a cabin in Michigan, and winters at a condo in Fountain Hills, Arizona. And much pleasure was often enjoyed in short trips from home, with the current pet dog, taking in the seasonal beauty of the countryside.

Ron earned a Ph. D. in Physiology & Biophysics at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in 1966. Following a one-year Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the VA Hospital in West Allis, WI and teaching at Marquette Medical School, he returned to Miami University on the faculty in the Department of Zoology (now Biology).  His four-year plan to stay at Miami stretched into 37 years, teaching General Physiology and Cardiopulmonary Physiology. Hundreds of his students became physicians, dentists, physical therapists and physiology researchers throughout the world.  He published scientific articles on the control of breathing and the control of blood pressure.  A serendipitous discovery led to developing a handgrip device to control blood pressure and other devices for effective rehabilitation and strengthening of muscle groups, with a business partner from Columbus, OH.

An avid sports fan and supporter, he helped recruit athletes for nearly every sport at Miami, served on the Athletic Advisory Board and the Hall of Fame/Cradle of Coaches Committee.

He served on many university and community boards and committees.  His most satisfying volunteer effort was the result of his Darrtown roots stimulated by his friend from second grade, Fred Lindley’s phone call that Darrtown would become 200 years old in 2014.  With Fred and other deeply caring Darrtown natives a committee planned and produced the Darrtown Bicentennial in July, 2014, drawing more than three thousand attendees, and initiating projects in the Memorial Park to place trees, shrubs, a Veterans memorial monument and walkways with memorial pavers. After the Bicentennial, it became the Darrtown Reunion Committee to plan and hold a reunion celebration, the Darrtown Fall Festival, in the village each fall.

He had a lifelong passion for gardening, focusing on trees, shrubs and perennials of the Midwest, but couldn’t resist including in his garden a few interesting specimens from other parts of the U.S and even foreign countries as they complemented the native plants. He was most pleased when visitors, especially young children came to tour the garden, and when plants matured and he could divide them and share plants with others.  He enjoyed all the birds, especially hummingbirds, and the butterflies and bees attracted to the garden. He especially liked watching the hummingbird moths at the flowers.  He tolerated the squirrels, but loathed the foraging deer, the raccoon and the moles, making the battle to defend the garden against them a passion.

Another passion was cooking.  He learned very early on as a boy from his mother.  He enjoyed trying new recipes, then modifying them to add his personal touch. He enjoyed sharing his cooking with others, either entertaining in their home, tailgating, or providing soups for someone recovering from an illness.

Ron is survived by his wife, Kathryn Young Wiley of Oxford; his son Matthew Eric, granddaughter Linda Lea, and grandson Tyler Matthew all of Concho Valley, Arizona.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. 

The family has suggested memorial donations in Ron’s name to the Darrtown Reunion Committee for upkeep of the Memorial Park’s trees, shrubs and walkway pavers or The Knolls of Oxford Future Care Fund.

Information about donating to the Darrtown Reunion Fund, in Ron's memory.

Welcome.  

If you don't already know, I am Roger, Ron's brother.  We are really pleased you have joined us today.

Ron left instructions as to what would happen after his death.  He only wanted a small gathering and a short program.

So, today, we are honoring his wishes.

I will read his obituary then have some remarks.

His son Matthew will speak.

The family will then depart for the cemetery.  

▶︎ ROGER'S OPENING REMARKS AT THE SERVICE

▶︎ ROGER'S "REMEMBERING RON" REMARKS DURING THE SERVICE

Ron was a boy from Darrtown.

Darrtown was small when we were growing up.  Not like the metropolitan Darrtown of today.  

East and West streets have been added.  North Street was extended further east and Cherry Street was extended further north.

Ron was a very loyal brother.  He did not tell our parents of my many misdeeds.  Of course, I was very loyal to Ron.  However, he had many more opportunities to be loyal than I did.  Since we were known by everyone in Darrtown, it was difficult to get in trouble.  But I found ways.

We played three sports with other boys during the year.  In summer we played baseball on the old Darrtown High School baseball field.  In the fall we played football at the Methodist church grounds.  The north end of the church building was the first down line.  In winter we played basketball at a barn which was located at the corner of Cherry Street and Oxford Street. It had great drainage so we could play almost any day.

Ron held his own even though he was not of great stature.

Ron and I went to Collinsville elementary school, grads 1-6.  Fortunately I was older or Ron would have set an academic standard that I would have not met.

At Collinsville two grades were in the same room.  So the teacher would instruct the first grade class, then work with the second grade class.  Well, Ron would quickly complete his first grade work and then get involved with the second grade activities.  However, he was extremely bored in second grade.  This also occurred when he was in the third grade; he also did the fourth grade work.

As a result the teachers suggested to our parents that he skip a grade.  Wisely they declined.

Our parents respected education and was always trying to find ways to enhance our education.  They subscribed to a encyclopedia series.  It was set up that we would receive one volume at a time.  Probably one a month.

When the volume arrived Ron read it from cover to cover, just as you would a library book.  All the while I was reading sport stories from flimsy paper booklets.

The Lane Public Library had a book mobile.  During the summer it would periodically come to Darrtown.  It parked in front of the grocery store and Hitching Post.  Out mom would take us, with our library cards so select books.  

I would pick “The Story of Babe Ruth”, Ron would pick “Albert Einstein and his experiments.”

But it was obvious that he was brilliant.  He entered Miami University in 1955.  I never saw his grade reports but know they contained all “A”.  

He never bored you with his brilliance

After graduation he taught at Talawanda for three years.  

He then went to the University of Kentucky medical school with his mentor and friend, Fred Zechman to purse a Ph.D.

After two and a half years he received his degree.

After a post doc year at Marquette, he returned to the faculty at Miami where he spent the remaining years teaching.

He loved Miami.  He loved teaching.  He also got great satisfaction in counseling students.  He guided some to medicine. He guided some away from medicine but explored other avenues for the students to pursue.

He was involved with NASA in the early stages of preparing training for the astronauts.  He would spend summers in Houston.  He tired of being away from home for the summer, so a plane would take him on Monday from Oxford, to Cincinnati, to Houston.  Friday afternoon he came back.

The air force was experiencing g-force blackouts with some pilots.  They commissioned Ron to find out why.  Through his experiments, trial and error, he developed the hand grip device.

He really enjoyed working with the athletic department when recruiting athletes.  He developed a strong relationship with Ben Roethlisberger and his family.  Ron was on the Hall of Fame committee the year Ben was voted into the Miami Hall of Fame.  The committee gave Ron the honor to call Ben to let him know he was elected.  

He was particularly fond of the volleyball team and Carolyn Condit.  He enjoyed getting to know the athletes and their families.  He really enjoyed volleyball alumni as they returned to campus.

My wife loved Ron.  When the four of us visited it was such a good time.  One highlight to share.  A few years back, we got a call from Ron and Kathy.  They had planned a week trip to Maine with a couple from Oxford.  One of the couples became ill.  They were calling to see if we would join them.  We did and had a wonderful time together.

Ron was great support two times in my life.  My first wife developed cancer.  We battled it for 2 years before she died at 39 years of age.  I could count on Ron for support.  Frequent phone calls really helped

The second was more recent.  My second wife developed Alzheimer's.  I was her care giver for 2 ½ years ending in 2021 when she moved to memory care.  She died 6 months later.  I would call him and it was so great to hear his voice.  He would call to provide support.

Ron had a really good sense of humor.  He loved a good joke, although I can't remember hearing Ron tell a joke.

And, he loved his single malt scotch.  When I would visit he would introduce me to new scotch, with detailed history.  He also cherished his Thursday therapy group which sipped scotch and reviewed the past week events.

He loved Darrtown.  With Fred Lindley they provided the incentive for the the 200th birthday of Darrtown.  An event that attracted some 3,000 people for the three day program.

I last visited Ron the weekend of April 7,8 and 9.  As fate would have it my son came to be about 6 months ago and indicated there would be an eclipse in April.  He had never seen a full eclipse, so we planned to come to Ohio to see it.  My daughter and one grandson joined us for the trip.  We stayed in Hamilton.  We visited with Ron Sunday evening when we got into town.  Monday morning the day of the eclipse my son pointed out we could get a better view from Oxford.  So we stationed ourselves on the soccer fields in the park on the west side of Oxford.  After the eclipse we visited with Ron and Kathy.  And before heading to the airport on Tuesday morning we got to visit with them again.  Ron was slow moving physically but we had good conversations.

Then just two weeks later he was gone.

Just a guy from Darrtown.  

▶︎ ROGER'S "GOODBY" REMARKS AT THE DARRTOWN CEMETERY