Funeral services for Ronald T. Windham were held on September 21, 2010 at Oak Lane Presbyterian Church, 6637 North 11t St., Philadelphia. Mr. Windham died on September 13, He was 74.
Life began for Ronald Thomas Windham on May 25, 1936, in Philadelphia. He was the youngest of two sons born to Maxwell Sr. and Evelyn Baylor Windham. He was predeceased by both parents and his brother Maxwell Jr.
Mr. Windham was educated in the Philadelphia public school system, graduating from Simon Gratz High School in 1954. While in high school, he was extremely active in numerous extracurricular activities, excelling in both academics and athletics. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, he was trained and performed duties as a part of the then famed “Defenders of Freedom” in the field of communications, he was honorably discharged on July 21,1958. After honorably severing ties with the Air Force, Mr. Windham returned to Philadelphia at which time he decided to continue to further his education. He enrolled in the mechanical dentistry school where he successfully completed its program in May of 1959. Shortly thereafter, he was about to begin what turned into the most wonderful 50 years that he could have ever imagined.
On December 12, 1959, he and Mable Claire Hale were joined in marriage. From that union came the life of their two children, Donna and Ronald Jr.
Later, he became a member of Oak Lane Presbyterian Church (OLPC) where he served the church for many years as a Trustee and could be counted on to serve and lend a hand wherever and whenever needed. He was a member of OLPC until his death.
During his life he held numerous types of employment. After completion of mechanical dentistry school, Mr. Windham was enrolled and graduated from the Philadelphia Police Academy. After realizing his wife was not very thrilled with the idea of being married to a policeman, due to the hazards of the job, he took on another occupation. From the ranks of the Philadelphia Police he then began another form of public service, that of being a carrier with the United States Postal Service (USPS). He was employed with the USPS for thirty years. During those 30 years of employment with USPS/ he received many awards for his exemplarily service, but he was most proud of the award he received for perfect work attendance. Others recognized the excellences of his work when Philadelphia Magazine recognized him in their “Best of Philadelphia” edition as 1986’s Best of Philly mailman. In 1992, he retired from the USPS. Because of his work ethic, he held a few jobs to occupy his time after retirement. He worked for a few years at Hertz Rent-A-Car, from there he went to work at The Overbrook School for the Blind a position he loved and held until his death.
He truly enjoyed his retirement years, but what brought the most joy to him during those years was the birth and life of his two grandchildren, Wrenton Wright II and Aleah Windham. To see him around them was a joy.
Ronald T. Windham was a true family man, always putting his family before his own needs. He leaves to mourn his passing: his beloved wife of 50 years, Mable; daughter. Donna; son, Ronald Jr.; son-in-law and daughter-in-law, Wrenton Wright and Sharon Windham; grandchildren, Wrenton II and Aleah; sisters-in-law, Virginia Murray, Annie Frasier (New Bern, North Carolina) and Lots Windham (Philadelphia); two brothers-in-law, Eldridge Murray and Ira Fraiser (New Bern, North Carolina); and a host of nieces, nephews and friends throughout the country.
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