Several years back, it occurred to me that a train ride could serve as a metaphor for life.

People boarding and exiting a passenger train at various times and places along the route of life, all headed forward, sharing time, space, and experiences with family, friends, and strangers; all moving ahead, at the same speed - with time passing at the same rate for everyone, ... yet each person on his or her personal, and unpredictable, journey.

This is a story about riding the train of life with Ronald Lee Wiley…who boarded the train October 4, 1937 and exited April 22, 2024.

Ron and I met in the spring of 1944, at the elementary school in Collinsville, Ohio.

I was the new kid, transferring in as a first grader. Ron, being a year ahead of me, was a second grader. Our teacher, who we both grew to revere, was Mrs. Marie Schmidt, who taught both grade levels in the same classroom.

We had no idea, in 1944, that we were about to embark on a trip of friendship that would last 80 years.

From elementary school through junior high and high school, Ron and I enjoyed so many good times; riding the same school bus, five days a week, sharing jokes, pranks, and laughter.

On Wednesday nights, we were together, for choir practice with the Darrtown Union Sunday School youth choir, which sang during the Lutheran and Methodist church services on Sundays. Usually seated in the back row of the choir loft, we often struggled to maintain proper decorum, as a knowing look or gesture, from one to the other, was sure to produce giggles, snickers, or muffled laughter.

Because we shared a similar sense of humor, Ron and I “got” each other .

Ron and I attended the same birthday parties, bonfire get-togethers and, when the Four Mile Creek froze over, there were community ice skating parties to organize and enjoy.

As one example, we loved Mad Magazine and we were pleased to be among the first to read and tell other teens about the comic book, when it debuted in 1952.

Ron spent a lot of time at our place, baling hay, harvesting crops, playing basketball in the barn, and just hanging out.

Then, came college; followed by adult life. Still good times; but ... a bit less carefree.

After graduating from Seven Mile High School (Seven Mile, Ohio) in the spring of 1955, Ron enrolled at Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio.

College enrollment provided another life experience for the two of us to share.

Ron’s success as a college student led to a rewarding career as a high school teacher (Talawanda High School, in Oxford, Ohio) and as a professor at his college alma mater, Miami University.

Details of Ron's professional life are told in his obituary.

Regular activities included playing table games, eating popcorn, drinking Barq's root beer, and watching the likes of Red Skelton, George Gobel and Ed Sullivan on our family's first television (a 13-inch black and white model).

Due to financial limitations, both of us lived at home, while commuting to classes at Miami University.

1️⃣ During his undergraduate years at Miami, Ron began ins service with with the United States Naval Reserve in Hamilton, Ohio … and there were times when he stopped at our house on his way to a Reserve meeting. He looked sharp and proud in his navy “whites.”

2️⃣ While enrolled in a botany class at Miami University, Ron helped with some farm work at our place that required us to cross the Four Mile Creek, which cut through our farm, northwest to southeast, for a distance of about a half-mile.

TWO STORIES from Ron's early years at Miami University...

In later years, Ron laughingly described how odd it must have looked to other, more substance-aware, on-lookers, as he walked across campus carrying a bucket with a three-foot tall marijuana plant.

One day, as Ron, my father, and I were crossing the stream, Ron pointed out a patch of tall, spindly plants growing in a nearby wetland area that none of us recognized.

About a week or so later, Ron, my father, and I were at creekside, when the Butler County Sheriff’s deputies burned the "weed" patch that Ron had discovered.

Yes, we stood upwind from the blaze.

So, Ron dug up one of the plants and, using a bucket that he borrowed from Dad, he transported the plant to Oxford to ask his botany professor if he could identify it.

The preceding reference to law enforcement officers brings to mind another “Ron and Fred” story … about a thing that began as a prank and ended as an act of public service.

In the mid-1950s, while we were in high school, Ron and I put a plan in motion that nowadays, might qualify as a “political activity.” We saw it as good fun.

On a spur-of-the-moment idea and during the dark of the night immediately prior to election day, we constructed and posted signs and posters around Darrtown to encourage voters to “write-in” Owen Kelly's name - so that he would be elected constable of Darrtown.

Owen Kelly performed his duties as constable so well that, upon his retirement, he earned the platitudes of an area judge and a local columnist for his service to Darrtown and Milford Township.

Marriage and careers took us in different directions and different places.

But, we stayed in touch.

Ron and I agreed that we should, at the very least, pursue the idea of organizing a Darrtown Bicentennial.

Ron Wiley was among the many people that helped bring about the success of the Darrtown Bicentennial. He distinguished himself, with his contribution of time, effort, and financial support.

For example, Ron:

► Participated as a member of the Bicentennial Steering Committee (served as chairman and treasurer)

► Engaged in the search for a bi-plane fly-over at the Bicentennial opening ceremonies

► Donated commemorative pencils for the Bicentennial Welcome Center

► Funded 200 flags for the village park and streets

► Built a "liars' bench" to be sold at the auction

► Crafted several commemorative walking sticks to sell in the Welcome Center

► Coordinated the appearance of the Alston memorabilia at the Lutheran church

► Envisioned, designed, and managed the village square project, including the installation of the commomorative pavers - which required multiple trips to the production company in Cincinnati, Ohio

► Oversaw the design and placement of the village square benches

► Ordered and secured the medallions that were presented during the village square Veterans program

► Helped with multiple set-up and take-down tasks at E-Dot Park

Persons familiar with the 200-year event recognize that the success of the Darrtown Bicentennial resulted from the contributions of MANY people.

One evening, while working on the Darrtown website, it occurred to me that Darrtown would be 200 years old in 2014.

So, like so many times before, when considering an adventure involving Darrtown, I called Ron.

And, then, in August 2011 … there was …THE PHONE CALL.

Once out of our teenage years, adult life kicked in … both Ron and I earned degrees from Miami and a few post-graduate degrees after that.

On April 22, 2024, a door opened on the train of life and Ron stepped off.

Lo and behold, voters wrote in Owen's name.

And, he was elected!

And… as they say, the rest is history.

Sadly, ... it was not to be.

Ron served eight years with the Naval Reserve.

To our delight, Owen accepted the job ... and he excelled at it!

See a descripton of this election experience at: Owen Kelly biography - Kelly elected Constable.