Ronald Morgan Maxwell

Ronald Morgan Maxwell, age 90, of Macclenny, Florida, passed peacefully on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at his daughter Sharon's home, surrounded by his family. Born in Decatur, Illinois, on January 18, 1933, to Dorothy Sanborn and Hugh Maxwell, he was the last surviving child of their six offspring.
After growing up in Huntington, West Virginia, during the Depression, Ronald joined the U.S. Navy at 17 and served in the Korean War as an Aviation Machinist. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he pursued a career with the Ford Motor Plant in Cleveland, Ohio.
Ronald eventually moved his growing family to Florida to accept a position with Pratt & Whitney. Later, he worked at Pan Am with NASA on the Apollo space missions and performed classified work during the Cuban Missile Crisis. A man of many accomplishments and talents, he thrived in every professional challenge he faced. Becoming a Journeyman welder, pipefitter, millwright, and rigger, Ronald was an acting Supervisor in charge of 100+ tradesmen in the critical and delicate missile and component handling at Cape Kennedy. When the space program was put on hiatus, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and retired from Anheuser Busch. Settled in Green Cove Springs, Florida, Ronald eventually moved to Macclenny, Florida, in his later years to be near family. He believed in community and service and had many tales to tell of his time in the military, as a volunteer fireman and EMT in south Florida, and his amazing career at the Kennedy Space Center.   A dedicated family man, Ronald was married to Ramona Padgett for 20 years and to Janice Teeple for 23 years. Of his colorful life, he will be most remembered for his kindness, generosity, humor, and his love for his children and grandchildren. 
Ronald was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Rebecca Elaine Dragich; and son, Richard Harvey Maxwell. Survivors include his children, Anita Callahan (William) of Macclenny, Sharon Kelly (Ben) of Macclenny, Ronald B. Maxwell of Jacksonville, and Jennifer Kuntz (William) of Gainesville; son-in-law, Darryl Dragich; grandchildren, Amber Noel Bishara (Shawn), Sandra Lyn Lensch (Bert), Amanda Joelle Callahan, William Maxwell Dolby (Jessica), Joseph Allen Dolby, Richard Tyler Dolby, Claire Elaine Kuntz, Megan Catherine Maxwell- Lebeau (Blake), and Ronnie Patrick Maxwell; great-grandchildren, Piper Bishara, Ruby Bishara, Jaydynn Dolby, William Maxwell Dolby Jr., and Ronald Parker Maxwell.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at Cedar Creek Church with Pastor Joseph Dube officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Creek Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of BLACKBURN-CURRY FUNERAL & CREMATION, 380 N. Lowder Street, Macclenny, Florida 32063. Please share your condolences with the Maxwell family online at www.blackburncurryfh.com.

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