Ronald Thomas "Ronnie" McJunkin

Ronald Thomas McJunkin (Ronnie) passed away on February 8, 2026, at the age of 90. He lived most of his life in the Chattanooga, Tennessee and Ringgold, Georgia area, where he was known for his quiet faith, steady work, and a lifelong devotion to gospel music.

Ronnie was a highly skilled journeyman bricklayer and stone mason with work that can be seen throughout the region. He believed in doing things well and doing them to last, a belief that showed in his work and came from a lifetime of working with his hands.

He also served in the United States Army as a Morse code operator in Korea, a role that suited his quiet and focused personality.

Music, however, was the constant thread of his life. Ronnie began singing gospel music as a child, joined his first quartet in high school and wrote his first gospel song at fourteen years old. That early start grew into a lifetime of singing and songwriting. He sang quartet gospel with many groups over the years, including The Noblemen and The Scenicland Quartet, traveling to churches across the country. His music played a role in many lives changed through faith and his voice and songs brought joy, comfort, and hope to countless others. Several of his songs received national recognition and he was a longtime member and board member of the Tri State Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, reflecting his talent and dedication to the gospel music community.

Those who knew Ronnie remember him as steady, kind, quietly funny, and hardworking. In addition to gospel music, he loved hunting, church, and history, especially stories of the Civil War and the people who lived through it.

Ronnie showed his love to those around him in everyday life. He taught his sons how to bait a hook, how to track a deer, and how to think about history with curiosity and respect. His example was a model for how to be steady, responsible, and caring in how to treat others and how to make time for family.

He is survived by his wife, Jane McJunkin; his sons, Michael McJunkin, David McJunkin, and Jeff McJunkin; his grandchildren, Lauren, Jacob, Nick, Chris, and Andrew; and his great-grandchildren, Annabelle, Braden, and Molly.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 11, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and funeral services will take place Thursday, February 12, at 12:00 p.m. both at Lane Funeral Home South Crest Chapel, 833 Chickamauga Avenue, Rossville, GA. An additional visitation hour will take place from 11 a.m. until the funeral hour. A short cemetery service will be held Friday, February 13, at 10:30 a.m. at the Chattanooga National Cemetery, 1200 Bailey Ave, Chattanooga, TN.

Ronnie McJunkin lived a life marked by work done well, songs sung with purpose, and a quiet faith that shaped everything he did. He will be deeply missed.

Condolences may be sent to lane-southcrestchapel.com.