Ronald Edward Ludington

LUDINGTON, Ronald Edward on Sunday December 8th 2024, passed away peacefully at LHSC in London, Ontario in his 89th year. Survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Gwen (Tye), sons Ryan (Patti) and Craig (Brenda), five grandchildren Mitch (Nicole), Shelby (Mitchell), Josh, Kenzie (Gavin) and Noah as well as two great grandchildren Christopher and Jack. Brother to Margaret Ball of Woodstock, John (Gloria) Ludington of Tillsonburg and Wayne (Linda) Ludington of Tucson Arizona. Brother- in-law to Marilyn Ludington of Live Oak Florida, Ken (Deb) Tye of Oshawa, Tom Patterson of Ancaster and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents Bob (1974) and Sophia (1995), brothers Bob (1958) and Gerald (2004).

Ron was born in Woodstock and served in the Royal Canadian Air Force in the 1950’s. He attended Teacher’s College and was principal at Burgessville school until the mid 1960’s after which he partnered in with a local printing company eventually Woodstock Print & Litho, which he ran until his retirement in 1985. He also served two terms on city council for the City of Woodstock in the late 1970’s until the early 1980’s. Ron was extremely proud when in 2018, the City of Woodstock established a park in the north end of the city as Ludington Park. 

Being avid sailors, in 1985 Ron and Gwen sailed off on their Whitby 42 sailboat and enjoyed many years in the waters around Florida and the Bahamas. Eventually, the sailboat got swapped for a motorhome and they once again took off, this time on the open road to explore the southern states in the winter months going as far south as the Baja in Mexico. Eventually the motorhome was swapped into a winter home in North Ft Myers, Florida and over the next 25 years moved a couple of times ending up in Punta Gorda, Florida. 

Many people who knew Ron have all mentioned how much they enjoyed his stories of adventures on the boat, or places they visited in the motorhome. He always entertained with his jokes and loved singing songs to his grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle and will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Woodstock Hospital Foundation in Ron’s name would be appreciated by the family.