Ronald Harley Hively

Ronald Harley (Ron) Hively, 85, of Daleville, Va., passed away peacefully on the 2nd of September 2011. Our family is very sad to have him pass but we have comfort in knowing he will be joining his wife in Heaven and no longer suffers from pain and discomfort.
Ron was born in Flatwoods, W.Va., on the 22nd of November 1925, to Harley Curtis Hively and Sallie Rhea Hively. He had one brother and sister-in-law, the Rev. Richard R. Hively and Metha Derrick Hively, both deceased. Ron was married for 57 years to his high school sweetheart, Dorothy (Juanita) Conway Hively, they were married in 1950. Ronald was also a very proud father and is survived by two sons, Robert A. Hively and wife, Anastasia Hively, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and David W. Hively and wife, Cindy Hively, of Roanoke. Ron is also survived by a stepgranddaughter he doted over, Brittney Vaughan, of Arlington, Va.

Ron graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in Charleston, W.Va., in 1942. He attended Morris Harvey University in Charleston prior to being drafted and joining the United States Army 100th Infantry Division, 398th Infantry, G "George" Company to serve in Europe in World War II. During his service to our country Ron was awarded both the Bronze Star for heroism as well as the Good Conduct Medals. Following his military service, Ron attended West Virginia University, College of Engineering, graduating in 1949 with an Electrical Engineering degree. Ron was elected to Sigma Pi Sigma, the National Physics Honor Society, and Eta Kappa Nu-Beta Rho Chapter, the Electrical Engineering Honor Society, in which he retained life-long memberships. Ron later obtained his Professional Engineering license. He was a Life Member of the West Virginia University Alumni Association.

Ron joined Appalachian Power Company, Charleston, W.Va., Division in 1949. During his career in Charleston, Ron occasionally taught night courses in Electrical Engineering at West Virginia Institute of Technology. In 1961, he was transferred to the Roanoke Headquarters. Ron held several managerial positions throughout his career with Appalachian Power and retired in 1990 after 41 years of service as Director of Rates and Tariffs.

While living in Roanoke, he was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church for over 50 years. He was a Deacon Emeritus and Trustee, Sunday School Teacher and served on numerous church committees. Our father enjoyed playing bridge with his friends in the monthly bridge club, reading, tinkering with his computers, photography and developing all his pictures in the darkroom he built. When he wasn't doing the former, you could always find Dad helping our Mother in the yard or garden, taking care of the family pets, helping his sons work on their cars or other projects, wiring something electrical or in the kitchen looking for something sweet to eat especially coconut cake. Having a young step granddaughter was also special to our Dad. He enjoyed spending time with Brittney and taking her to her favorite places to eat.

At this time, we would like to give a very special thanks to his lifelong friends, Mr. and Mrs. John W. Vaughan and to ResCare HomeCare for providing a very dedicated and caring in-home team which allowed our father to maintain his independence and an excellent quality life for the past several years. We would also like to thank the doctors and staff of Lewis Gale Hospital MICU, of Virginia Baptist Hospital LTAC unit and of Carilion-Roanoke Memorial Mountain MIC and Palliative Care Units for their excellent treatment and care of our father during his illness.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on the 5th of September 2011, at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel in Roanoke, Va. Funeral Services will be held at noon on Tuesday, the 6th of September 2011, at Calvary Baptist Church in Roanoke, Va., with the Reverend Donna Hopkins-Britt officiating. A Committal Service with Military Honors for the family will take place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, on the 7th of September 2011, at the West Virginia Memorial Mausoleum Chapel at Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens in Cross Lanes, W.Va.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 608 Campbell Ave., SW, Roanoke, VA 24016. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.