Ronald T. Giddens

Born at home in Pecan Park Ronald T. Giddens died December 5 at the age of 93. Though born in humble beginnings, he rose to accomplish much in his lifetime. He officially began working at the age of 12 – though he always claimed to be 6 at his father’s funeral home, Giddens Funeral Home. He would go to school during the day and work nights and weekends at the funeral home. At the age of 17 Ronald joined the Merchant Marines. When he returned home after the war, he joined his father and brother at the funeral home. In 1946, Ronald went to Jacksonville Beach to open his own funeral home. Originally on Third St., it moved twice before its current location on Beach Blvd.

In 1952 Ronald met and married Lois Strickland. During the early years of their marriage, they lived in the Giddens Funeral Home on Riverside Ave. Lois taught first grade during the day and would dispatch ambulances at night. Eventually, they moved to Jacksonville Beach. After their daughter, Robin, was born they moved to Avondale. The family were members of Avondale Baptist Church, where Ronald served as a deacon and in various other roles in the church. Ronald’s love of the beach never diminished and in 1979 they moved to Ponte Vedra Beach where he lived until his death. His wife Lois preceded him in death in 1996.

Ronald worked diligently to build his business and was quite successful. Eventually, he had four funeral homes in Jacksonville. In addition to his business, he was appointed by Gov. Claude Kirk and again by Gov. Ruben Askew to the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers where he served for 17 years. He also was President of the Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. In 1973 he and Bobby Hardage decided to merge their funeral homes for economies that would come from having a larger company. The two bought out all of the partners of their firms. Their success caught the eye of Service Corporation International (SCI) and in 1975 they sold their business yet stayed involved until both of their deaths.

During his lifetime, Ronald was a member of various organizations including Oceanside Rotary, Beaches Business Association, The Optimist Club, The Loyal Order of the Moose, and the Civitan Club. He was a Board member of the Baptist Home for Children and served as its President; he served on the Board of the First Guaranty Bank (now CenterState Bank) and was a founding member of the Ponte Vedra Beach Chamber of Commerce. Ronald was also a member of Christ Episcopal Church and served on the Christ Church Foundation.

Life was not all work and no play. Ronald was a wiz at finding sharks’ teeth on the beach and accumulated quite a collection. He was an avid golfer playing regularly at the Ponte Vedra Club but unfortunately never shot his age. He and his first wife, Lois, would spend time in Highlands, N.C. and enjoyed Thanksgivings at The Cloister. They also traveled with friends to Europe playing golf at St. Andrews in Scotland.

Ronald is survived by his second wife, Lester Hart Giddens; his daughter and son-in-law, Robin Giddens and J. David Sheppard; and his grandchildren, Molly Giddens Sheppard and James D. Sheppard, Jr., as well as other extended family.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 13 at 2:00 p.m.at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Legacy Lodge.

To view the livestream of the service please visit: https://youtu.be/1jW-Y_fwmdY or https://youtu.be/y5soFh9cgoc

The family suggests memorials to Christ Episcopal Church Foundation, 400 San Juan Dr., Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 or The Animal Rescue and Adoption Agency (taraajax.com).

Arrangements by Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville 904-737-7171. Please sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com.