Ronald P. Peary
Born December 22, 1942
Ronald P. Peary, age 72, of Long Neck, DE, and formerly of New Castle, DE, passed into the land of the Lord on Sunday, August 16, 2015.
Born in Wilmington, DE on December 22, 1942, Ron was the devoted and only son of the late Paul D. Peary and Frances (Kupis) Peary. He attended St. Hedwig’s School and went on to graduate from Salesianum High School in 1960. Known fondly as Moose by his teammates due to his ability to block any opponent on the field, Ron loved playing football. Following his graduation, he went on to accept a position with the Delaware River and Bay Authority working in the maintenance division at the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
At the age of 19, Ron enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He served as a door gunner out of Huey helicopters under a covert mission and earned a Bronze Star. Ron was honorably discharged after serving his country for 4 years and returned to employment with the Delaware Memorial Bridge where he began his career with the bridge’s police department.
Two years later, he applied to the New Castle County Police Department where he would spend the next 20 years serving the county’s citizens. During his tenure with the department, Ron became a knowledgeable resource regarding the use of radar in patrol cars and was featured in a 1980 issue of Delaware Today. He rose to the rank of Sargeant where he was given the nickname of Pop by his underlings. He took great care of his squad and was well-respected by his peers.
After Ron’s retirement from the police department in 1981, he accepted a position with the State of Delware Public Defender’s Office where he worked as a criminal investigator. He would later pursue a career in the banking industry first with Discover Card, then at PNC Bank and lastly, with MBNA where he worked as a credit card fraud investigator and analyst.
In 2005, Ron was fully retired and he and his wife and best friend, Annette moved to Sussex County and settled in Pot-Nets Lakeside. After 9 years of his wife being his caregiver, he was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and was admitted to the Delaware Veterans Home in Milford. Ron spent his remaining years there where he received the most loving and excellent care.
In his leisure time, he truly loved camping with his wife, family and dog, Sarge. Ron bowled in several mixed leagues over the years. He enjoyed NASCAR and was an avid fan of Richard Petty. He had a passion for woodworking and especially enjoyed making rocking horses, cradles and table and chair sets for his grandchildren and cedar-lined chests for their mothers.
In addition to his parents, Ron was preceded in death by his most very best friend, Harry McCauley, whom he loved like a brother. Let’s hope there is a body shop in Heaven so that Ron and Harry can work together forever repairing and repainting cars. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 33 years, Annette Peary; son, Joseph Anthony Peary (Karen); his wife’s children, Dawn Kendall and Gene Kendall (Angela); his 3 beautiful granddaughters, Molly Kendall, Kelly Kendall and Samantha Thomas-Kendall; grandson, Joseph Peary, Jr.; special great grandson, Stephen Lewendowski; many cousins; and his faithful canine companion, Rusty.
The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to the staff of the Delaware Veterans Home, especially to Ron’s nurses Terry and Gloria and his special aide, Lisa Wagner.
A funeral service will be held at 12 Noon on Wednesday, August 26, 2015, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a visitation for family and friends will be held from 10:30 am until 12 Noon. Interment will follow in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ron’s memory may be made to Faithful Friends, 12 Germay Drive, Wilmington, DE 19804.
George Freebery
The best SERGEANT ever , a true friend, and a good man. RON – rest peacefully my friend.
Cpl. Stephen H. Smyk (DSP ret.)
I had the pleasure of working the street with Ron. He was a top notch police officer who you couldn’t help but like. I know he battled his illness hard for a long time, as he would, the fighter he was. Now he can rest in peace with many of us who have gone before him. I know St. Michael has a job for him so he can stay busy doing something he loved. My prayers now are for the family and many friends who mourn his passing.
Stephen H. Smyk, DSP (Retired)
ron & evelyn chickadel
Our prayers are annette and family now because god is taking care of ron now !!may peace be with you ron !!
Nancy and Darl Jones
Annette and family- our thoughts are with all of you at this time. May your beautiful memories carry you through now and always.
Nancy & Darl Jones
Tony and Ginny Ciliberto
COURAGE UNDER FIRE, ONCE A MARINE ALWAYS A MARINE. SEMPER FI. GUARD THEM GATES. RON, MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.
Larry and Libby DuHadaway
Annette and family, we are so sorry to hear of Ron’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time of sorrow and in the days and weeks ahead. May Ron now rest in peace.
Nancy
So sorry to hear about Ron’s passing. My prayers are with you and your family.
Sharon Newcomer
My prayers are with you Annette , Joe, Joey & family. I have so many wonderful memories from my years as his daughter in law. God Bless you all.
Norma & Frank Haddaway
Ron was a good man – it was a pleasure to visit with him prior to his illness and he always kept the jabs
going in his mock attack on my military service, since I retired from the Navy. We came to know him
when he married Annette (my Sis!), and he was dedicated to her happiness and well-being, which, of
course, was reciprocated. “Net” and Ron loved to make the trip to visit Sharon and Skip and he would
help polish off the steamed crabs that Skip had steamed, help him in his furniture shop and just be
another member of the family. We will miss Ron – he had a way of sliding into your heart. While we hate to see him leave, still all that he went through is now behind him – he will hear those words welcoming him from Saint Peter – Welcome home, Marine!
Joe Peary
My Father / My Friend
Rest in peace dad.
Rich Russo
Nette,
Im very sorry to hear of “Sarge’s” passing. I will always remember the past times of fun we all had and the things that Sarge taught me along the way. I will never forget going to races with you and him, as well as the trips to Chincoteague Island with the boys!
He will be missed by us all that he has impacted.
Regards,
Russo.
Sharon & Curt Kimmel
Dear Annette and family,
We are so sad to hear about Ron’s struggles and his passing. He was a wonderful and caring neighbor and we were blessed to have him on Pendleton Court. We will hold you all in our prayers with the knowledge that Ron is free, and that God will hold you up in the days ahead.
All our best,
Sharon & Curt