Bryce "Ron" Ronald Wagoner

Ron lived a varied, eclectic life. At times he was a businessman and a successful entrepreneur. He was also a Vietnam veteran and a dedicated volunteer, offering his services and experience to the North Carolina Vietnam Veterans (NCVVI), the Ravenscroft School and the Athens Drive High School, both in Raleigh. He enjoyed spending time with his family, cooking, playing his guitar, and reminiscing about the times of his life.

Born August 18, 1944, Ron was a native of Raleigh. Except for time in the U.S. Army and at college, Ron spent his entire life in his home town. He graduated from Needham B. Broughton High School in 1962 and attended Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg for a year. He enlisted in the Army in 1966 and was trained in a classified technical position for the Army Security Agency. During 1969-69, he served with the Army in Vietnam.

Upon his return to the U.S., Ron earned a bachelor’s degree in finance at Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College in Wilson, NC). He went to work for BTR, a company founded by his father, Bryce Wagoner, and others.

Ron also worked during this period as general manager of the Peaks of Otter Lodge, then a Wagoner family-owned hotel, camping and restaurant facility on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Bedford, Virginia. Ron’s outgoing and genial personality made him a natural fit for this position, and he soon became a favorite among guests and staff.

When Bryce Wagoner sold BTR in the early 1980s, he recruited Ron — by then an experienced businessman in the restaurant and hospitality industry — to help him start a new company, Peaks Coffee Shops, which operated dining facilities in hospitals throughout the eastern U.S. Ron used his engaging personality and business development skills to create successful working relationships with hospitals throughout the eastern U.S. At its height, Peaks Coffee Shops provided services to patients, visitors and staff at more than 50 health services providers.

After Bryce and Ron sold Peaks Coffee Shops, Ron turned his attention to other pursuits. He had a passion for several activities, ranging from SCUBA diving to donating his time to school and charitable organizations. He helped manage NCVVI, serving as its president for a number of years. At that time, NCVVI had begun conducting a monthly ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial at Capital Square in downtown Raleigh to commemorate the men from North Carolina still unaccounted from the war in Vietnam. That reading, a command performance, is reenacted on the first Saturday of each month.

Ron also was an active volunteer at the Ravenscroft School, which two of his children attended, and at Athens Drive High School. He was often seen at Ravenscroft performing a variety of activities, including helping in theatre productions.

But Ron’s primary contribution at both schools was as a valued assistant coach for the wrestling teams. At Ravenscroft, he helped lead the school to a respected and often victorious interscholastic competitor at matches throughout North Carolina and Virginia. Ron cherished his time as a wrestling coach. Many of the relationships he developed with coaches and athletes on the teams he helped continued for the rest of his life.

In his later years, Ron enjoyed honing his musical skills on his Martin guitar and spending summer days at North Carolina beaches. He put his restaurant experience to good use, cooking dishes enjoyed by family and friends. He also spent many evenings as a lively host or guest at dinner parties, where he never dined with a stranger.

Ron was predeceased by his parents, Bryce and Frances Wagoner of Raleigh, and a sister, Carolyn Van Wagoner of Bedford, Virginia. Survivors include his wife, Jennifer, and three children: Bryce Wagoner of Los Angeles, California; Zachary Wagoner, also of Los Angeles, and Abby Myers (husband Jarrett and grandson Ronan Nicholas Myers) of Raleigh. Other survivors include a sister, Sheryle Wagoner Hill (husband Arthur Hill), and five nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift or contribution may be made to the charity of one's choice.

A visitation for Ron will be held Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh, NC 27605. A graveside service will occur Monday, April 11, 2022 at 11:30 AM at Oakwood Cemetery, 701 Oakwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27601.

Services provided by Brown-Wynne, 300 St. Mary's St., Raleigh.

Warm Summer Sun

by Mark Twain

Warm summer sun, Shine kindly here,

Warm southern wind, Blow softly here.

Green sod above, Lie light, lie light.

Good night, dear heart, Good night, good night.