What "Traditional Knife" are ya totin' today?

Old Engineer said:
This may not be the place where this should be posted , but since it is one of the Highest Viewed threads there is , this is where I am going to post it and this will be tough for me to do .
Today I lost a very good friend to me and a good friend to many of you . His wife has asked to let you all know that @Half/Stop Ron passed away . He had open heart surgery for a Torn Aorta about 3 weeks ago and was back at home for about 2 weeks . He collapsed this afternoon and was rushed to the hospital but was not strong enough to survive . I know some of you asked about him , but he did not want it to be known as to why he wasn't on the Forums . At one point , it appeared that he was Okay a couple of weeks ago , but that eventually changed . I know for a fact that I will miss him and his phone calls .
When Ron was young and running a Paper Route he would go down to the local hardware store and buy a knife on lay-away . So you know he had been collecting for a few years . He was 66 years old . In the Louis Lamour books about the Sacketts , they talked about " A Guy Good Enough To Ride The River With " . I would have " rode the river " with Ron .

Harry
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Harry, very sorry to hear about Ron. I communicated with him a few weeks ago when I hadn’t heard from, or seen Stuart, @Duckdog post in awhile. Thanks for posting the news....life is getting way too short these days.
 
Old Engineer said:
This may not be the place where this should be posted , but since it is one of the Highest Viewed threads there is , this is where I am going to post it and this will be tough for me to do .
Today I lost a very good friend to me and a good friend to many of you . His wife has asked to let you all know that @Half/Stop Ron passed away . He had open heart surgery for a Torn Aorta about 3 weeks ago and was back at home for about 2 weeks . He collapsed this afternoon and was rushed to the hospital but was not strong enough to survive . I know some of you asked about him , but he did not want it to be known as to why he wasn't on the Forums . At one point , it appeared that he was Okay a couple of weeks ago , but that eventually changed . I know for a fact that I will miss him and his phone calls .
When Ron was young and running a Paper Route he would go down to the local hardware store and buy a knife on lay-away . So you know he had been collecting for a few years . He was 66 years old . In the Louis Lamour books about the Sacketts , they talked about " A Guy Good Enough To Ride The River With " . I would have " rode the river " with Ron .

Harry
Click to expand...
Very sad news about Ron, he will be missed... My deepest condolences to his family and close friends.
 
Old Engineer said:
This may not be the place where this should be posted , but since it is one of the Highest Viewed threads there is , this is where I am going to post it and this will be tough for me to do .
Today I lost a very good friend to me and a good friend to many of you . His wife has asked to let you all know that @Half/Stop Ron passed away . He had open heart surgery for a Torn Aorta about 3 weeks ago and was back at home for about 2 weeks . He collapsed this afternoon and was rushed to the hospital but was not strong enough to survive . I know some of you asked about him , but he did not want it to be known as to why he wasn't on the Forums . At one point , it appeared that he was Okay a couple of weeks ago , but that eventually changed . I know for a fact that I will miss him and his phone calls .
When Ron was young and running a Paper Route he would go down to the local hardware store and buy a knife on lay-away . So you know he had been collecting for a few years . He was 66 years old . In the Louis Lamour books about the Sacketts , they talked about " A Guy Good Enough To Ride The River With " . I would have " rode the river " with Ron .

Harry
Click to expand...
Such sad news Harry, I knew you, Nancy, Pam and Ron were very close. I rec'd your email and was jolted by the news. Duncan and I enjoy meeting all of you at the GEC rendezvous a few years back, I as many here will miss Ron's kindness and thoughtful posts on the forum. Back when Bob (Bigbiscuit) was fighting Cancer many of us became close as we rallied to raise money for Bob's family, mainly his grandson Bo. Ron was instrumental in that drive, a testament to Ron's kindness. Ron and I spoke several times on the phone since the rendezvous but not as much recently and I was miss those calls. He replied Wednesday to a text I had sent him earlier and he was thankful for the prayers that I and several others had sent his way. Please pass along our condolences to Pam and Ron's family.
 
Old Engineer said:
This may not be the place where this should be posted , but since it is one of the Highest Viewed threads there is , this is where I am going to post it and this will be tough for me to do .
Today I lost a very good friend to me and a good friend to many of you . His wife has asked to let you all know that @Half/Stop Ron passed away . He had open heart surgery for a Torn Aorta about 3 weeks ago and was back at home for about 2 weeks . He collapsed this afternoon and was rushed to the hospital but was not strong enough to survive . I know some of you asked about him , but he did not want it to be known as to why he wasn't on the Forums . At one point , it appeared that he was Okay a couple of weeks ago , but that eventually changed . I know for a fact that I will miss him and his phone calls .
When Ron was young and running a Paper Route he would go down to the local hardware store and buy a knife on lay-away . So you know he had been collecting for a few years . He was 66 years old . In the Louis Lamour books about the Sacketts , they talked about " A Guy Good Enough To Ride The River With " . I would have " rode the river " with Ron .

Harry
Click to expand...

Sad news. My condolences to Ron's family and friends.
 
@Old Engineer Harry, this certainly is the right place to announce this very sad news and I thank you for the eulogy to your friend. I like to hope he was my friend too even though we never met as I am in Europe, he was active on the Forum and a benign presence.

Ron Presley struck me as a joyful man and a tolerant man with grand humour too. some years back I asked after a knife and he very kindly gave it to me and included this CASE with it as well. What I gave back to him I believe he enjoyed too. He was no great age but he was a great collector and comrade. I feel for his wife, daughter and close friends, this is an awful time.

In memory of Ron, who always did love a good CASE knife :thumbsup: I carry this today with a sombre heart.

Homage, Will

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What a rotten end to a rotten year! Poor old Ron :( I was never lucky enough to meet Ron in person, but we exchanged PMs and emails regularly, and interacted daily in the Guardians thread, as well as here. I considered him a good friend, as I know many did on The Porch. He'll be very greatly missed. My deepest condolences to his wife and best friend Pam, their family, and to all his friends here. Thank you, Harry, for letting us all know, it's never an easy job. I've posted a few words in the Guardians thread here.

R.I.P. Ron :thumbsup:

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Oh what heavy, horrible news.
Pam - We wish you all the strength and wishes that we can send to you, yet it’s not enough to help the empty feeling that Pam and Family, Harry and Nancy and us here are feeling.
With Harry updating us I was sure that what he was describing was normal - a tough time to get through from this operation, after my having the same type of surgery a year ago- I was so so sure Ron was going to pull through.
Darn, Ron I enjoyed so much catching up with you at the 2016 Rendezvous. Your wonderful Wife and you were great people to get to meet, you left such a nice impression my friend.
I am sure that your travels continue - I hope they go superbly well.
 
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Old Engineer said:
This may not be the place where this should be posted , but since it is one of the Highest Viewed threads there is , this is where I am going to post it and this will be tough for me to do .
Today I lost a very good friend to me and a good friend to many of you . His wife has asked to let you all know that @Half/Stop Ron passed away . He had open heart surgery for a Torn Aorta about 3 weeks ago and was back at home for about 2 weeks . He collapsed this afternoon and was rushed to the hospital but was not strong enough to survive . I know some of you asked about him , but he did not want it to be known as to why he wasn't on the Forums . At one point , it appeared that he was Okay a couple of weeks ago , but that eventually changed . I know for a fact that I will miss him and his phone calls .
When Ron was young and running a Paper Route he would go down to the local hardware store and buy a knife on lay-away . So you know he had been collecting for a few years . He was 66 years old . In the Louis Lamour books about the Sacketts , they talked about " A Guy Good Enough To Ride The River With " . I would have " rode the river " with Ron .

Harry
Click to expand...

Rest in peace, Ron.
Thanks for the info, wise words Harry.
My condolences to the family and all friends.
 
Old Engineer said:
This may not be the place where this should be posted , but since it is one of the Highest Viewed threads there is , this is where I am going to post it and this will be tough for me to do .
Today I lost a very good friend to me and a good friend to many of you . His wife has asked to let you all know that @Half/Stop Ron passed away . He had open heart surgery for a Torn Aorta about 3 weeks ago and was back at home for about 2 weeks . He collapsed this afternoon and was rushed to the hospital but was not strong enough to survive . I know some of you asked about him , but he did not want it to be known as to why he wasn't on the Forums . At one point , it appeared that he was Okay a couple of weeks ago , but that eventually changed . I know for a fact that I will miss him and his phone calls .
When Ron was young and running a Paper Route he would go down to the local hardware store and buy a knife on lay-away . So you know he had been collecting for a few years . He was 66 years old . In the Louis Lamour books about the Sacketts , they talked about " A Guy Good Enough To Ride The River With " . I would have " rode the river " with Ron .

Harry
Click to expand...

Harry, I’m so sorry to hear about Ron. :( Thank you for letting us know. I had noticed that he hadn’t posted recently, but didn’t really think too much of it. I always found Ron to be one of the friendliest guys here on the Porch — which, of course, is really saying something! He will certainly be missed.
 
Old Engineer said:
This may not be the place where this should be posted , but since it is one of the Highest Viewed threads there is , this is where I am going to post it and this will be tough for me to do .
Today I lost a very good friend to me and a good friend to many of you . His wife has asked to let you all know that @Half/Stop Ron passed away . He had open heart surgery for a Torn Aorta about 3 weeks ago and was back at home for about 2 weeks . He collapsed this afternoon and was rushed to the hospital but was not strong enough to survive . I know some of you asked about him , but he did not want it to be known as to why he wasn't on the Forums . At one point , it appeared that he was Okay a couple of weeks ago , but that eventually changed . I know for a fact that I will miss him and his phone calls .
When Ron was young and running a Paper Route he would go down to the local hardware store and buy a knife on lay-away . So you know he had been collecting for a few years . He was 66 years old . In the Louis Lamour books about the Sacketts , they talked about " A Guy Good Enough To Ride The River With " . I would have " rode the river " with Ron .

Harry
Click to expand...

So sorry to hear this. Condolences and prayers to Ron's family and friends.

Internet forums are an interesting study regarding people's character. It is awfully easy to hide behind a keyboard and act in way that is less than friendly. Then you have some folks whose humanity shines, as they always seem to be willing to help us dumb newbies, are willing to share their experiences and collections, and in short with their positive energy make places like this a nice place to gather. Ron certainly was in the latter group - like others have mentioned he made me feel welcome here and obviously he forged great friendships with many of you. He will be missed.
 
View attachment 1476240 I last saw Ron @Half/Stop on November 28, when knowing my like for old Schrades and whittlers, he surprised me by pressing this into my hand as we shook hands to say farewell.
Harry @Old Engineer introduced me to Ron and Pam at the Badger Knife Show a couple of years ago, and I remember thinking at the time how remarkable it was that this here forum, and a strong common interest had brought these two gentlemen together, with their wives, and how they’d forged such a deep friendship. Right before we parted that day, we all put our feet up and compared what we’d found knife-wise. I had to go pick up my daughter, and the four of them were heading back to Harry and Nancy’s where Harry was going to be grilling Wisconsin bratwurst. I was a bit envious.
Harry, I’m so sorry you’ve lost your good friend.

I’ll be totin the Whittler Ron gave me.
The berries are Bittersweet, which is what this knife will be for me from now on.
Y’all have a great day, think of our friends who’ve moved on, and hold your loved ones close.View attachment 1476253
 
Old Engineer said:
This may not be the place where this should be posted , but since it is one of the Highest Viewed threads there is , this is where I am going to post it and this will be tough for me to do .
Today I lost a very good friend to me and a good friend to many of you . His wife has asked to let you all know that @Half/Stop Ron passed away . He had open heart surgery for a Torn Aorta about 3 weeks ago and was back at home for about 2 weeks . He collapsed this afternoon and was rushed to the hospital but was not strong enough to survive . I know some of you asked about him , but he did not want it to be known as to why he wasn't on the Forums . At one point , it appeared that he was Okay a couple of weeks ago , but that eventually changed . I know for a fact that I will miss him and his phone calls .
When Ron was young and running a Paper Route he would go down to the local hardware store and buy a knife on lay-away . So you know he had been collecting for a few years . He was 66 years old . In the Louis Lamour books about the Sacketts , they talked about " A Guy Good Enough To Ride The River With " . I would have " rode the river " with Ron .

Harry
Click to expand...
Truly sad news to hear, Harry. Although I can't say that I knew Ron well we had exchanged a few pm's and I could tell he was a fine gentleman.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his close friends here and elsewhere and especially to his family. I'll miss his daily presence on this site.
 
AnW said:
Then you have some folks whose humanity shines, as they always seem to be willing to help us dumb newbies, are willing to share their experiences and collections, and in short with their positive energy make places like this a nice place to gather. Ron certainly was in the latter group - like others have mentioned he made me feel welcome here and obviously he forged great friendships with many of you. He will be missed.
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This news of Ron's passing has brought a tear to my eye. I didn't know Ron, except through his interactions on this forum, that's my loss. I'd hoped one of these years to get to the GEC rendezvous, to meet Ron and so many others of you, that have made the time I've spent here a joy.

AnW's post mirrors my impression of Ron and what he brought to this place.

Ron and his family are in my prayers. My most sincere condolences to his family and friends. He will indeed be missed greatly.
 
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