Ronald Carl Van Buren MD

Ronald C. Van Buren, M.D., 90, of Columbus, passed away peacefully at his home on January 21, 2024. He was born on November 14, 1933, in Findlay, Ohio to the late Harlow and Clara (Krueger) Van Buren.

Ron grew up in Carey, Ohio, and graduated from Carey High School in 1952. Ron attended Ohio Wesleyan University and graduated from The Ohio State University. He married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Glenda, in 1957. After serving 2 years in the U.S. Army, Ron attended medical school at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, graduating in 1964. Ron’s passion was serving others through his 40 year practice as a family physician at Beechwold Medical Center on N. High Street, often caring for multiple generations of a family. A dedicated physician, he made house calls and daily rounds of his hospitalized patients up until he retired at the end of 2004. Ron was proud that his grandfather, father, and he together provided more than 100 years of family medicine healthcare to families in Ohio. He was affiliated with Riverside Methodist Hospital and served as medical director of Wesley Glen Retirement Center for many years. Ron was a long time member of the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP), serving as president plus many other elected positions. He served as a Liaison Representative to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and mentored many medical students and residents. Ron served as team physician for Thomas Worthington High School for 25 years and enjoyed attending their sporting events. He was an active member of All Saints Lutheran Church for many years, serving on various committees. An avid Buckeye fan, Ron loved attending OSU football and basketball games with family, friends, and later his grandchildren. His greatest joys were spending time with family and attending his grandchildren’s many activities with Glenda.

Ron will be dearly missed by his best friend and loving wife of 66 years, Glenda (Snyder) Van Buren; daughters Christina (Stephen) Knapp, Cynthia (Jeff) Christoff, and Susan (Matt) Eakin; grandchildren Gregory, Ronald, and Melissa Knapp, Kobe, Tyler, and Aleeya Christoff, and Megan and Natalie Eakin; as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Stanley Van Buren and sister Virginia (Van Buren) Schrom.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 26, 2024, from 2:00 – 4:00pm and also on Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 11:00am until the service at 12:00pm at All Saints Lutheran Church, 6770 North High Street in Worthington, Ohio.

Memorial contributions may be made in Ron’s name to All Saints Lutheran Church or the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians Foundation.