Ronald E. Umstead

            Ronald E. Umstead, 74, of Pittsville Road in Kennerdell, Rockland Township, died Wednesday morning, July 18, 2018 at UPMC Northwest in Seneca following a brief battle with cancer. 

            He was born in Oil City on August 2, 1943 to the late Alfred A. and Doris (Warner) Umstead. 

            Ron was a 1961 graduate of Cranberry High School.  He then served in the U.S. Navy from 1962 through 1966 and worked as a radio and teletype repairman on the USS Alcor.

            Mr. Umstead attended the Rockland United Methodist Church. 

            Ron bowled at the Elks Club, was a member of the Franklin VFW and Eagles Club, the American Legion in Knox, was a lifetime member and past chief of the Rockland Volunteer Fire Department, and a former member of the Rockland Sportsman Club. 

            He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, and camping; and always enjoyed an O.P.B. 

            Ron was employed by Venango Newspapers in Oil City as a printer, retiring in 2005.

            He was married in Seneca on September 23, 1994 to Sandra J. "Sis" (Sandrock) Fike, and she survives. 

            Also surviving are his two children:  Ronda Jones and her husband Jim of Victory Heights, and Todd Umstead and his wife Kim of Emlenton; two stepchildren:  Brenda McCool and her husband Jeff of Dempseytown, and Eric "Rick" Fike of Rocky Grove; his grandchildren: Zac Jones and his wife Nicole, Betsy Jones, Lindsey Hazlett and her fiancé Justin Wilson, Dustin Holton and his wife Michelle, Christie Culver and her husband Matt, Nicole Malone, Andrew "A.J." Malone, Kristen Thompson, Brittany Fike, Heather McCool, and Jeffrey McCool, Jr.; a great-granddaughter, Adriann Jones; two great-grandsons, Jesse Hazlett and Blaine Wilson; and numerous step-great-grandchildren. 

            Ron is also survived by a brother, Alfred D. "Skip" Umstead and his wife Phyllis of Grove City; a sister, Sandra Sue Umstead of Polk; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles; and his former spouse, Linda Umstead of Seneca.    

            In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Gary, Charles, and Harry Umstead; his step-mother, Charlotte Irene Umstead; and a sister-in-law, Jeanie Umstead. 

            Visitation will be held Saturday (July 21) from 4 - 8 p.m. in the Hile-Best Funeral Home, 2781 Rte. 257 in Seneca, Cranberry Township.  A funeral service will be held in the funeral home Sunday (July 22) at 2 p.m. with Rev. Steve Henry, pastor of Victory Heights United Brethren Church, officiating. 

             Private interment will be in the Rockland Cemetery in Kennerdell. 

            Memorial contributions may be made to Rockland Volunteer Fire Dept., 995 Pittsville Rd., Kennerdell, PA  16374; or to a charity of one's choice.    

            Condolences may be expressed to Ron's family online by visiting www.hilebest.com

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