I know that there will be many a saddened heart over the realization that Ronnie Weaver has passed away. He was a solid citizen of both Warsaw and Leesburg.
My being from Leesburg, for nearly 30 years, I was affiliated with Ronnie. Everybody in Leesburg loved him. Ronnie loved people, which made people want to love him back. There was just something about that dear soul that a person couldn't resist.
Ronnie had a close relationship with Jones Market in Leesburg. Harold Jones, owner of the grocery, and his staff of employees seemed to take Ronnie under their win, and Ronnie would often tell me how good Harold was to him. (Ronnie always affectionately referred to Harold as "Harry," and Harry was one of his favorite people.)
A family in Leesburg by the name of Heckaman welcomed Ronnie into their home. LeVon and Peg Heckaman also held great affection for Ronnie.
Not only did the folks in Leesburg hold great affection for Ronnie, but I believe that he was also very much loved here in Warsaw. After I moved to Warsaw, often I would run into Ronnie on his bike, and whenever he saw me, with great anticipation and a big smile lighting up his countenance, he would say, "Donny, I will meet you up at Dig's, and we can eat together." Sometimes we did, and while we enjoyed our repast, Ronnie would tell me how much he lived Al Rovenstine and his wife, and how nice they were to him. I think he loved the whole police force who seemed to have adopted Ronnie.
On occasion, I would see a group of police officers eating at Dig's, and Ronnie would be with them. The last time I saw Ronnie was just before Christmas, when he came to "Retired Tigers" and looked me up. Ronnie, that lovable, little guy, brought me a box of Christmas cookies, and also wanted me to lead him to June Fields' apartment. June was extremely fond of Ronnie, and she felt so bad to realize that he had passed on. June and I were both shocked to know that Ronnie had passed away, for, as long as we knew him, never once did we ever hear him complain of ill health. "I dearly loved Ronnie," June told me, with tears in her eyes.
