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Ronald Patrick Zama
06/07/1928 — 07/27/2007
From Kennewick, WA, US | Born in Utica, New York
Ronald Patrick Zama
Ron Zama passed away on July 27, 2007. Born June 7, 1928, in Utica, New York, he grew up in the north end of Boston in an Italian immigrant family, and moved to Richland in 1950.
He served in the Navy as a Seabee doing surveying in the Philippines for the construction of the Cubi Point Naval Station.
Joyce Morin became his wife Sept. 18, 1952 and they had two children, Bill and Faye. They lived in Richland, Denver, and southern California and back to Richland again in 1965. Ron worked for G.E., Martin Marietta, Vitro, Battelle, & Fluor Hanford as a draftsman/designer. He loved working on home projects and enjoyed his companies softball and bowling leagues. Model building of military ships and airplanes was his hobby in his later years, which he had enjoyed as a kid. He loved to entertain and have friends over for barbeques. Trips to see family in Boston and St.Paul took the family on many vacations.
He became a faithful care giver when Joyce became ill with Ataxia, and was at her bedside for years. He volunteered his time at Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House.
A few years after Joyces passing, Ron met the second love of his life, Betty Merrill. They shared a few short years together in Kennewick, before he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He lived at the Manor for a year and then went to Hospice. He wanted to be near his kids and moved to Seattle, where he received exceptional care at the Rimas House in Shoreline. He passed away here on a gorgeous sunny day.
He was also preceded in death by his parents Mary and Angelo Zama, his sister Lillian Gerber. He is survived by his spouse, Betty Merrill, his son and partner, Bill and Rodger Scheibner, his daughter and partner, Faye and Barb Ode, his sister, Doris Loschi, and his nieces, Linda Holmes, Julia Boyum, Linda Gerber and Carla Gerber-Weintraub, and many more beloved friends and extended family.
He wishes to thank all the good people who cared for his well being at the Manor, Hospice and Rimas House.
Rons funeral will be Sat. Aug. 4, 10am at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland, with a memorial service to follow at All Saints Episcopal Church at 11:30am. Viewing will be Thurs and Fri from 5:00-8:00pm at Einans Funeral Home.
Memorials can be sent in his name to Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House in Kennewick.
My sincere sympathies to Ron’s wife, son & daughter. He was such a nice man. I met him in my Grief Support Group several years ago and he made me laugh through all my tears many times…
I really wanted to go to his service, but was out of town.
Ron is someone I will never forget. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.
Fondly-
Cheryl Nixon-Erickson
Our thoughts go out to you during this time of loss. I am sure he loved being close to his kids during those last days. He was a great friend and I feel privileged to have known him. I will miss him deeply. And to Betty, thank you for filling
Ron’s last years with lots of joy and new memories. God bless you all during this difficult time.
All our love and prayers with you Bill, Faye and Betty. We have many fond memories of time spent with Uncle Ron…from camping to chocolate chip pancakes, trips to Richland, our wedding, spoiling Cady and Jaymie. The most treasured memory is much laughter and tons of big bear hugs. He will be truly missed. God bless you Uncle Ron and your loving family.
Julia, Patrick, Cady and Jaymie
My thoughts and prayers go out to Ron’s family during this time of grief and loss. May God be with you. I will miss his smile, his laugh, and his firm handshake. It has been on honor to work for him.
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Ronald Patrick Zama