Ronald Frederick Kolb

Ronald Frederick Kolb - March 28, 1937-November 30, 2024

Ronald "Ron" Frederick Kolb was husband to Diane Helen Kolb, father to Aaron and Garret (Cynthia) and a grandfather to Django, Aidan, Wylie, Quinn, Noah and Delaney. Ron was born on Easter Sunday, 1937 in Buffalo, New York and is preceded in death by his father, Frederick, mother, Mildred, and sister, Mary Ann, who he loved beyond measure.

At age 12, Ron's father passed away. Out of necessity, as a young boy, he learned to become both self-reliant and resilient. Through perseverance, innate emotional intelligence, and patience Ron forged a personal foundation of character and integrity which allowed him to rise above the circumstances presented.



Ron struck a balance between the stress of poverty while enjoying childhood as he quickly became a leader among young men. Ron was recognized by his self-motivation to become excellent in many pursuits. It was this commitment to excellence that propelled Ron in both his professional and personal life.

As a senior at Seneca Vocational School, he was selected Senior Class President and was Captain of the school's baseball and basketball teams. Two years later, Ron signed a professional baseball contract with the Kansas City Royals. He hung up his cleats shortly after being drafted, taking with him enduring friendships and an indelible passion for his first love, baseball.

Following his baseball career, Ron worked at the Westinghouse plant by day, and was a bowling pin setter by night to save enough money to attend college. Always a man with a plan, who longed to see the country, Ron attended UCLA to see The West and the University of Miami to see The South, ultimately graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Business from the University of Buffalo.

Ron went on to pursue a successful career at the Department of Treasury as a Special Agent with the Internal Revenue Service. Promotions ensued elevating Ron to Group Manager of the Criminal Investigative Division in Cleveland, OH. An accomplished marksman, he achieved the highest score in pistol qualifications, joining the intelligence pistol team, leading to range officer duties and a Secret Service detail. His distinguished service and recognition led Ron to become the Chief the of the IRS's Ohio Valley Division in 1976, bringing his young family to Louisville. Ron retired from Civil Service in 1987. Not one to sit idle, Ron formed KCH, LLC with fellow former government agents and baseball aficionados who were Ron's great friends of nearly fifty years. As a professional criminal investigative firm, KCH won contracts with government agencies, expressly the Kentucky Real Estate Commission, until his second retirement in 2018.

Though his professional baseball career was relatively short in comparison, Ron never lost his love for the game. He studied relentlessly to build upon his vast understanding of the sport, driven to immortalize his baseball knowledge through videos and writings, passing along his expertise to any young athlete interested in doing the work to be great. After coaching his sons, Ron became an Associate Scout for the Chicago White Sox, coached the Eastern High School Freshman baseball team and held free baseball clinics in the community for twenty years. "I can make a good ballplayer great", he would say, "but I can't make a lousy ballplayer good...only less lousy."

As an old man on his daily walks or visits to local ballfields, he could never pass by a group of boys playing without instilling better fundamentals into their fielding, throwing and hitting - whether they wanted it or not. His passion for the sport and body of work led to Ron's induction into the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame, completing his goal to be the best ambassador for the sport he could be.

Upon meeting Ron Kolb, most would come away either loving him or liking him, and if not, one would surely respect him. He did not suffer fools gladly, but with grace. Ron was not a complex man, not a man of mystery. He was honest and straightforward, often instructing a young ballplayer in a formidable tone that got them to listen, as that was the goal. But his bark was always worse than his bite.

To Ron, friendships meant everything. Through his humor, loyalty and wisdom he made many. As a 48-year resident of the Woodland Hills neighborhood, he left an unforgettable positive impression on the community. To honor Ron, the former Mayor of Woodland Hills and the Chairman of the Association of MRA Coaches and Players dedicated the bench in Hardy Brinley Park in his name and proclaimed August 4, 2024, as "Ron Kolb Day". The event was attended by many long-standing friends and former players who now use Ron's teachings to coach their own children.

Through all his achievements, Ron claimed the best thing that ever happened to him was meeting and marrying the true love of his life, Diane Orwat, in 1966. Together, they reared two sons who were his pride and joy. As they grew, he supported them with the compassion of a father and the toughness of a coach. The influence he had on his children continued into grandparenting. The loving relationship between Ron and Diane was a blessing for the children and grandchildren to witness and presented a great example that could only be disrupted by Ron's passing. But his memory will remain in the tightly knit generations of the Kolb Family, whose love for one another will last through thick and thin due to Ron's humor, composure, and steadfast love.

We honor Ron's life from Easter Sunday, March 28th, 1937 to his passing on November 30th, 2024. A pillar of the community known throughout Middletown as "Coach" by so many has gone on to his envisioned "Field of Dreams".

A Funeral Mass will be held to celebrate Ron's life at Saint Aloysius Catholic Church in Pewee Valley on Saturday, January 4 at 12:00pm with food and drinks at Rumors -on Ron- to follow from 2 to 5 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Middletown Recreation Association or the Multiple Sclerosis Society.