At age 12, Ronnie’s family moved to South Carolina where Ronnie became a die-hard University of South Carolina Gamecock fan, regularly attending many athletic events. Ronnie worked his adult life in foundries and textile plants. Ronnie married Melissa Rae Thurstin on March 29, 1991. Ronnie and his wife, Melissa, were avid travelers, visiting a number of US cities with New Orleans becoming a favorite destination. The couple enjoyed spending time with each other and family at South Carolina beaches and North Carolina mountains.
Ronnie enjoyed sharing jokes and laughs with his extended family. Many of his family would often tell stories of his childhood, including the infamous “cooki-o” incident. Since his retirement in 2017, he has reached out to cousins in multiple states. He never met a stranger and was always willing to swap stories.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Melissa Thurstin; his mother, Shirley Childers, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is predeceased by his grandparents, including his beloved paternal grandmother, Viola Pearl Neal and his father, Ronald D. Neal, Sr. He was much loved and will be missed beyond measure.
A celebration of Ronnie’s life will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Final Victory Animal Rescue located at 2136 Sumter Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201 (www.finalvictoryrescue.com).
