Ronald Heppes

Ronald "Ron" Heppes, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026, at the age of 93 in Middletown, NY. The son of John Philip and Mary Ellen Monaghan Heppes, he was born on September 11, 1932, in Bronx, NY, Ron's life was marked by dedication to his family, service to his country, and commitment to his community.

Ron married Catherine (Kay) Sweeney on June 16, 1956 in the Bronx and they created a beautiful family and life together. In addition to Kay, his legacy continues through his sons, Joseph, his wife Sharon and extended family of Irving, TX, John P. and his wife Francine of Otisville, Eugene and his wife Sharon of Highland Mills, Paul and his wife Deborah of Goshen, and Robert and his wife Sherri of Pine Bush. Ron's joy was multiplied with the presence of his 12 grandchildren, Arielle, John Jr., Laura, Grace, Sarah, Benjamin, Brenna, Connor, Sean, Caitlin, Clare, and Katherine, as well as his three great-grandchildren, Isabella, Braelynn, and Blake. Ron is also survived by his sisters-in-law Ann Strommer, Mary Sweeney, Pat Traphagen and Eileen Ward.

His extended family of numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews held a special place in his heart.

Ron was predeceased by his brothers and sisters, and brothers and sisters-in-law; Mary and Joan Vanderlinden, Eugene Sweeney, Gerard Strommer, Raymond Traphagen, William Vanderlinden, Wayne Ward, Gladys and Herbert Ziesche, Jack and Barbara Heppes, Ellen and Edward Heppes, Dorothy Heppes and Warren Heppes.

Ron proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1954. His dedication to his nation was further honored when he took part in Mission 22 of the Hudson Valley Honor Flight on April 13, 2019, a momentous occasion that brought pride to him and his family.

After his military service, Ron joined the NYS Police in 1955. He retired in 1978 as an investigator with the NYSP BCI . After his State Police retirement, he joined the Orange County District Attorney's Office as a criminal investigator until his retirement in 1995. Shortly after his retirement from the DA's Office, he then served as an Alderman for the City of Middletown 4th Ward for six years. His commitment to justice and public safety was unwavering throughout his career.

A man of faith and community spirit, Ron was deeply involved in various organizations. He was a Charter Member of the Division 4 Ancient Order of Hibernians, holding every office during his tenure, and a Charter Member of the NYSP PBA. His work with the Orange County Conservative Party, where he served as Treasurer and Secretary on the Executive Committee, reflected his passion for civic engagement. A board member of the Middletown Little League, CYO Director of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, member of the John S. Burke Parents and Booster Club, and a member of the Mid-Hudson St. Patrick's Parade Committee, Ron's contributions to local traditions and youth programs were invaluable.

Ron's Catholic faith, family, and Irish heritage were the cornerstones of his life. He was a faith-filled, loving, and friendly man who had an impact on the lives of all who knew him. Through his actions and his warm demeanor, he exemplified the values he held dear, leaving a lasting impact on his community and beyond.

Ronald Heppes will be remembered as a man who lived his life with purpose, generosity, and a deep love for those around him. His memory will be treasured and his presence deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to have been a part of his remarkable journey.

Visitation will take place from 3 to 7 pm on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc, 130 Highland Avenue, Middletown, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am on Monday, March 16, 2026 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt, Carmel, 70 Carmelite Drive, Middletown, Ny 10940. Burial with Military honors will follow in Orange County Veterans Cemetery, 11 Craigville Road, Goshen, NY 10924.

The family requests memorial contributions in his name to be made to either the NYSP Signal 30 fund https://signal30.org/donate/ or to the Tunnels to Towers Fund https://t2t.org/ and Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties https://hospiceoforange.com/give-now/