James Andrew "Andy" Ronald Jr.

James Andrew "Andy" Ronald, Jr.
March 14, 1946 – November 10, 2025.
James Andrew "Andy" Ronald, Jr., 79, passed away peacefully on November 10, 2025 after a long and courageous battle with ALS.
Andy was born on March 14, 1946, in Bangor, Maine, to the late Margarette Lutz Ronald and James Andrew "Jim" Ronald, Sr. He attended Valley Forge Military School in Pennsylvania for high school, where he developed his leadership skills and his lifelong love of sports. Andy went on to play football at the University of Maryland before transferring to and graduating from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. During his time at Marshall, Andy met the love of his life, Cheryl Runyon, and they married in June 1971.
In late 1970, Andy began his remarkable, nearly 60-year career in the energy industry. Over the decades, he became a respected and innovative leader, holding key positions with Shell Oil Company, Enterprise Products Partners, Inergy, and Crestwood Equity Partners. As a member of Crestwood's Supply & Logistics Development team, Andy's expertise was indispensable in shaping the company's national supply network and infrastructure.
Colleagues across the propane and energy sectors admired Andy's deep knowledge, integrity, and humor. He often said, "To be a good supplier, you have to be a good buyer," a philosophy that guided his career and earned him the respect of an entire industry. Among his many accomplishments, Andy served as Chairman of the National Propane Gas Association's International Committee, sat on the NPGA Finance Committee, and represented the industry in hearings before the U.S. Department of Energy. Even after his official retirement in 2018, Andy continued to mentor others and share his vast expertise through his consulting business.
A man with a generous heart, Andy also founded the Wallace R. Bostwick Memorial Fund in 2009. Through this initiative, and with the support of friends and colleagues across the propane industry, nearly 20,000 care packages were sent to U.S. soldiers serving in remote areas of the Middle East-a legacy of compassion that endures.
In 2016, he and his beloved wife Cheryl built their dream home and retired to Palm Island, Florida, where they found joy and peace together by the water. While Andy loved his work, retirement afforded him the opportunity to embrace his true passions: spending time with family and enjoying the outdoors. He was an avid sportsman, hunter and a devoted saltwater fly fisherman.
His intellectual curiosity kept him engaged and excited to explore new hobbies and projects. In recent years, he managed the complicated restoration of a 1979 Scout for his eldest grandson, something that brought him great joy-and the occasional challenge.
Andy is survived by his incredible wife of nearly 55 years, Cheryl Lynne Runyon Ronald; his eldest daughter, Ashley Lynne Ronald Nelly, and her husband, Christian Meredith Nelly; his beloved son James "Andrew" Ronald, III; and his cherished grandsons, James Andrew "Drew" Ronald, IV and Austin Shane Ronald.
To know Andy was to love him. A one-of-a-kind friend, Andy is remembered by all who knew him for his quick wit and colorful jokes, his passion for all things food-related, his quest for the perfect Manhattan (with the right cherries, of course), and his knack for collecting just about anything. But above all, his steadfast integrity, love of family, and unwavering zest for life made Andy a truly remarkable man. His spirit lives on in the many people he mentored, the industry he helped shape, and the family he adored.
A private celebration of life will be held in early 2026 in Boca Grande, Florida. In lieu of flowers and donations the family wishes that you send your favorite "Andy Memory" to the following email address AndyRonaldMemories@gmail.com, a coffee table book will be created for the family to enjoy for years to come.