Ronald Hord

Hord not Hoard, one may have trouble getting the name right but there is no mistaking the personality of Ronald L. Hord. He was a practical jokester, and an idiom master. He seemed to have a saying for everything.

June 14, 1938 Ron was born to Coy and Mae (Ferguson) Hord in Coldwater, MI to dazzle the world with humor and happiness. He had a typical boy’s childhood filled with dirt, guns and the outdoors where he and his friends never had trouble finding new ways of entertaining themselves. Ron graduated with the class of 56’ at Portage Central High School where he played clarinet and was a member of the High School band. This musical talent led him to a love of country music.

Ron shared a special bond with his father, a bond brought on by the passion they both shared for working with their hands. Ron had an incredible talent for working with wood, his father shared this talent but with metal. During a workshop class Ron was helping out as a teacher’s assistant. Ron was privileged to teach his father how to weld. There was no “horsing around” in this class Ron had to take the “bull by the horns” and make sure he did a good job to impress his father.

For those who do not know the story, the family name was originally Hoard, but when a family member entered the Army, a spelling error was made, and rather than make a fuss over it they just let the name stand.

When Ron was eighteen he put aside his jokes and stood tall and proud as he entered the work force. He found a great career with the team at Consumers Energy as a digger operator, (pole setter), a meter reader and ultimately in charge of the supply room. In just a short time, his comfort level increased, paving the way for his humor to sneak back, and for friendships to arise. In his 35 years of service at Consumers he was undoubtedly known as the jokester right along side his good friend, Chuck Hopkins. When not working Ron loved to vacation outdoors where he enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends, especially Doug, Bob, Chuck.

Ron especially loved his time in Colorado with his son Dale. Unlike any other time in the outdoors this was a new and awe inspiring adventure for them both. Just watching the sun rise high above Pike’s Peak was breath taking and a great time for bonding. Ron also made time to head up to Canada for some fun times at fly-in fishing camps. Ron was inspired by and felt at home with nature and the outdoors.

When back home Ron worked on his collection of jokes,recipes, boat information, fishing tips, and gun specs. He had filing cabinets full of information, tips, and other specifications not to mention the thousands of lines and jokes he spent much time perfecting for daily use. Ron was always “going ape” when it came to finding new idioms to use or more jokes to say in fact you could say he would go “whole hog”.

Ron died January 28, 2003 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.

His family includes his significant other for the past fifteen years, Anita Vickery, of Kalamazoo; 3 children; Annette Moulton and her fiancé Peter Vial of Louisville, KY, Ronald Dale and his fiancé Carlie Summitt of Mattawan, Nickie and Mark Snyder of Waynesboro, VA, 2 grandchildren; Michael Dale Hord and Victor Tate Snyder, a sister and brother-in-law Bonnie and Ernie Airhart of Parchment, a son-in-law Stephen V. Moulton of Louisville, KY and his significant other for the past 15 years, Anita Vickery of Kalamazoo.

Friends may visit with Ron’s family on Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the BETZLER FUNERAL HOME Stadium Drive, West of US 131 375-2900 where a Celebration of Life service will be held at 10AM Friday with Reverend Stephen V. Moulton leading the service. Please visit Ron’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read his life story, share a memory, make a memorial donation to the American Cancer Society or the Humane Society, or order flowers online.