Staff Sergeant (Ret. ) Ronald McKinney, 87, of Anniston, peacefully passed away at home in the company of his beloved family on January 27, 2019, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Visitation for Mr. McKinney will be held at Hill Crest Baptist Church on Thursday, January 31, 2019, from 11am-1pm with the funeral following at 1 pm.
Officiating will be Dr. Rick Reaves, Dr. Stephen Anthony, and Bro. David Tankersley. Graveside service with full military honors will be held at Anniston Memorial Gardens immediately following the service.
Ron is honored to include Larry Howard, Charlie Goode, John Hughes, Jose Ortiz, Larry Bridges, Tim Roszell, Lin Bridges, and Virgil Wilkerson as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include God’s Grace Sunday School Class and Southeastern Seniors Golf Association. Ron was born April 19, 1931, in Linville, North Carolina, to Ira and Novella McKinney.
He grew up in the Linville area with his four brothers – Floyd, Charles, Allen, and Richard. Ron enlisted in the US Army in 1946 where he spent the majority of his distinguished 23 year-career as a Military Police and served with great pride and honor in multiple assignments in the United States, Korea, Japan, and Germany. During this time, he met the love of his life, Dorothy Britt McKinney, and they were happily wedded on July 5, 1950, in Ft.
Knox, KY. He was honorably discharged from the military in 1969 after receiving numerous awards and then resided in Anniston for the remainder of his life. Following his retirement, Ron was self-employed at McKinney Texaco Service Station for 8 years, also owned McKinney and McCampbell Auto Sales for 15 years, was employed at Sunny King Motor Company for 6 years and at Jimmy Nelson Motors for 6 years.
Ron was an avid golfer, gardener, and lover of all things outdoors who never met a stranger and always had a big smile to share with everyone he encountered. He loved nothing more than spending time with his family and friends, and also had a passion for classic and antique automobiles. He was an active member of Hill Crest Baptist Church where he was involved in God’s Grace Sunday School Class and the Good Timers.
He was also a member of Cane Creek Golf Club and the Southeastern Seniors Golf Association. Ron is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, and several nieces and nephews. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dorothy Britt McKinney; three daughters and their spouses, Linda McKinney Townsend and husband, Jim Townsend, of Decatur; Barbara McKinney Villanueva of Anniston; and Kathy McKinney Stephens and husband, Mark Stephens, of Anniston; two grandchildren, Cole Stephens and Madison Stephens; multiple nieces and nephews; and his four-legged best friend, his dachshund, Pixie.
Mr. McKinney and his family would like to express their sincerest gratitude to Amedisys Home Health and Hospice Care; family caregiver and friend, Linda Metcalf; and medical practice manager and neighbor, Joanna Jones; for the exceptional care they received. “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing”.
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