ALLEN, RON, 63, of Prospect, KY, entered into eternity to join God in his kingdom, Saturday March 7, 2009. He was owner of Drennan/Ronalco Company, memberships include Middletown Christian Church , Board member of the Eastern Area Community Ministries (EACM), volunteer for the Summit Academy and the Valley Campus of Middletown Christian Church and a former Board member for the March of Dimes. Ron devoted his life to giving and was very generous to all with his time and energies. He is preceded in death by his parents, J. Woodroe and Mary Allen. He is survived by his wife, Gina Allen; four children, Angie Banta (Keith), Dr. Tim Allen (Lesley), Jama Haggard (Ryan) and Kari Amburn (Chris Miller); sister, Judy Kalmey (Ed); and grandchildren, Kaitlynn, Nicholas, Remi, Reece, Torren, Kaylee and Kennadee. Service will be Wednesday 11 a.m. at Middletown Christian Church, 500 N. Watterson Trail, with burial in Floydsburg Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-8 p.m. Tuesday at Oldham County Funeral Home, 706 W. Jefferson St. in LaGrange, KY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to EACM, P.O. Box 43049, Louisville, KY 40223, Summit Academy, 11508 Main St., Middletown, KY 40243, or his church.

Eulogy: By David Cooper
I find great comfort being in this house of God.

For those of you who do not know, I am David Cooper, Ron’s prior business partner. Ron and I knew each other for over thirty four years.

My favorite poem was read at my Father’s funeral twenty years ago. As many of you may know, my Father, Rudey, was Ron’s original partner. They loved each other like Father and Son~~~and Ron and I loved each other as Brothers.

My children loved him as Uncle Ron. Nothing would have given Ron more pleasure that having my daughter, Allison, being here today to give her Father love, emotional support and comfort. Brian and Michael are here in spirit.

The following poem is entitled “Leaners and Lifters”, written by Ella Wheeler Wilcox:

“There are two kinds of people on earth today,
Just two kinds of people, no more I say,
Not the good and the bad, for it is well understood,
The good are half bad, and the bad are half good.

Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years,
Bring each man his laughter, and each man his tears,
Not the rich and the poor, for to count a man’s wealth,
You must first know how the state of his conscience and health.

Not the humble and proud, for in life’s busy span,
Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man,
No! The two kinds of people on earth I mean,
Are the people who lift, and people who lean.

Wherever you go, you will find the world’s masses,
Are evenly divided, in just these two classes,
And strangely enough, you will find,
There is only one lifter, to twenty who lean.

This one question I ask…Are you easing the load
Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?
Or are you a leaner who lets others bear,
Your portion of worry, labor and care?

With deep love and respect, we assemble today to honor the memory of Ron Allen, to celebrate his legacy as a “lifter”, and to be inspired by his exemplary life. As has often been said, “Life is not measured by the length of our years but, rather, by the quality of service on earth.”

We are so disheartened by his untimely passing, but we have much to learn from the way he lived. We give thanks for the blessings of his memory, and how much goodness, civility and sweetness that Ron brought into our lives.

Ron’s lived life with grace, dignity and class. He truly knew what was important. It certainly wasn’t about money. It wasn’t about ego. In the final analysis, it was only about living a righteous life, loving his family, serving his fellow man, loving our country, and trying to improve the human imperfections of our world.

I always teased Ron that, one day, I’d ghost write his autobiography. The name of the book would be “Full Throttle, The Life and Times of Ronald L. Allen”. As the title suggests, Ron lived a very full and complete life~~~and had an addiction for new cars. You see, Ron was a “pedal to the metal” type of guy…a study in constant motion. He used to always tell me, “A moving target is hard to hit”. Typical Ron. He always made you laugh~~~he had a way with words that just precisely described the situation at hand.

He was a tremendous communicator and a great listener. He loved to discuss politics and religion. Although opinionated, Ron was always respectful. In recent years, he became a prolific blogger. During this past presidential election, with that twinkle in his eye, and that wide grin on his face, and after he gave me a big bear hug, he told me: “David, God will forgive you for voting Democratic”!

Like Woody, his Father, he could talk forever. He had the gift of humor and was often self-deprecating. He made everyone feel comfortable and at ease~~~why?~~~because Ron was thoroughly comfortable with himself. He liked the guy who looked back from the mirror, yet realized there was always room for self-improvement~~~and he expected the same of others.

Like all of us, Ron made mistakes~~~Ron had some regrets. During his latter years, after mellowing that temper, and through a process of self-introspection, Ron became very much at peace with himself, so thankful for his new found happiness with Gina, being blessed by the reciprocal love of his children and grandchildren, being of service to his fellow man, being involved in Church activities, and having his personal relationship with God.

Ron drove himself like no other person I have ever known. He was a confirmed workaholic~~~yet an achiever. His industriousness and work effort was legendary. Ron was a self-made man. He accomplished everything through hard work. He never complained that life was difficult, or that he didn’t receive his fair share of breaks~~~he just accepted the challenges. He made his own opportunities. He understood that there were no entitlements or guarantees in life. He created his own destiny. Ron played by the rules. He never forgot his humble beginnings. As I often told him, “Ron, you are the “perfect Republican”!

As a “lifter”, Ron led by example. Being six years younger, I learned at his knee, and I am forever thankful that Ron was my mentor, and one of the very best friends I ever had.

Customers, vendors and suppliers loved Ron’s intensity and his commitment to integrity, because Ron always did what was right, even if it meant losing money. Ron lived by the Golden Rule. If he had any fault in life, it was that Ron was perhaps too generous and trusting of others…but Ron slept at night because he treated people fairly. I never knew Ron to ever be unethical in business. Although highly competitive, he was never ruthless but, rather, compassionate and kind.

Ron had an automatic moral compass which guided his conscience. I knew him to frequently forgive debts of others simply out of mere compassion. Many times, often anonymously, he gave charity directly to the poor. You see, Ron was a humanist. He helped people who were truly in need. He cared very deeply about those far less fortunate. Although he lived the American Dream, he never forgot his humble beginnings.

When faced with adversity, Ron met challenges directly. Ron never shirked his responsibilities or obligations. If he failed, it was never from a lack of effort. When he succeeded, he never let it inflate his ego. Ron understood that the ladder of life goes both up and down…he had many successes, and a few set-backs, but he learned from life’s lessons with grace and humility.

Ron always extended a lending hand. He took a personal interest in all of his employees. Simply stated, Ron was a shepherd to his flock. He tried to inspire, educate and motivate others. Because he was a “lifter”, few other employers were as charitable, caring or involved in their employees’ welfare. Ron brought out the best in people, especially if they were “leaners”. He always told me, in our many interfaith discussions, that although he already found grace through salvation, he still wanted to make sure he “earned his way to Heaven” by performing good deeds on earth. He succeeded. Ron covered all the bases.

My dear Brother, you also earned your way to Heaven by being a blessing to all those who loved you. You were a role model for all of us to emulate. As we say in the Jewish faith, of the righteous who pass, “may their memory serve as a blessing”. The essence of a person’s soul is immortal. The way Ron lived his life as a “lifter”, with his service to others, will perpetuate his memory. Like all of you, I, too, shall miss him endlessly.

Later in life, Ron found true happiness upon his marriage to Gina. With Gina’s guidance, he also rediscovered his heartfelt Christian beliefs. He loved this Church. Gina, I never knew Ron to be any happier than in the years he shared with you. You were his soul mate. You were the anchor of his life. May his memory bring you both comfort and guidance.

He was a devoted Father and Grandfather. Angie and Tim, when you look into the eyes of your children, you will forever see your Father. He will continue to lift you in everything you do throughout the rest of your life. Given enough time, his loss will become bearable. In future years, you will be amazed how the lessons you teach your own children…will be a reflection of your Dad’s life lessons that he shared with you.

Judy and Ed, he loved you deeply as his sister and a brother. He was a wonderful and devoted Son to Mary and Woody. He was very much involved the lives of his step-children, his nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and other family relatives, always willing to proffer advice and counsel…again, always giving of himself.

So, in the midst of our grief, let us not morn Ron’s passing but, rather, celebrate the quality of Ron’s life. I say, “Great job, Ron Allen”! You left nothing unsaid. Your heavy lifting is finished. We salute your accomplishments. Our hearts are filled with gratitude, not anguish, in having known you so well.

Now, my dear Brother, rest eternally in peace.


Here is an email GiGi sent out:
A week ago on Saturday, March 7th, my husband Ron died of what was probably a mass heart attack. Ron and I spent the day working in the yard cleaning up tree limbs left from the ice storm. Approximately 4:30 PM when Ron's last task was to put the tractor away in the shed, he collapsed. I was close by in the yard working but did not see Ron go down. When I did look over and see Ron, I thought he was working on a ramp leading up to the shed. But when I saw him still there in the same position perhaps two minutes later, I ran over, turned my loving husband over and found him unresponsive. A neighbor and I administered CPR for over 20 minutes until paramedics arrived. Ron tragically never regained consciousness.

Ron was a PERFECT HUSBAND and a wonderful CHRISTIAN man. He walked the walk and talked the talk. I have no doubt that he is in God's Kingdom. I have attached Ron's Eulogy which was given by his great friend whom he always referred to as his brother, David Cooper.

If you did not get the chance to meet Ron, I hope you enjoy reading the Eulogy (attachment) to learn of his goodness. If you did know Ron, I am sure you will identify with what David wrote. Ron always hoped he would at least be a “small link in the chain” that would lead anyone towards finding a relationship with God.

I am so blessed to have my family, Church friends, UPS coworkers, tennis buddies, neighbors, and friends available around the clock to comfort me in my time of sorrow.

God Bless you for being my friend. My Love to all of you!

Gina