Ronald "Ron" Proffitt

Ronald "Ron" Proffitt, 76, departed this earthly life on Friday, November 28, 2025, in Garden City, Kansas.
Ron was born on December 18, 1948, in Garden City, Kansas, to Earl and Vola (Livengood) Proffitt, who precede him in death. He was their firstborn.
A lifelong resident of Garden City, Ron attended local schools and graduated from Garden City High School in 1967. Afterward, he completed his degree at Northwest Kansas Votech and enlisted in the United States Navy, serving proudly from 1969 to 1973 as a Navy Seabee in Hawaii, Guam, Vietnam, and Japan.
Ron met his soulmate and angel, Cynthia "Cyndi" Childers on his birthday in 1970. She often joked that he followed her home, and she asked her mom if she could keep him - and she did.
They married on August 12, 1973, and spent more than 50 years together building a beautiful life routed in devotion, humor, and especially family. Together, they welcomed four sons by birth and one through the AFS foreign exchange student program: Justin (Hannah), of Garden City, KS, Bradley, who precedes him in death, Lucas (Bethani), of Lincoln, NE, Brandon (Megan), of Denver, CO, and Gaël Quettier (Brussels, Belgium). He was also the proud Grampa of five, Dominik and Danika, of Garden City, KS, and Amelia, Pierson, and Eleanor, of Lincoln, NE, and the God-Grandparent of Chad and Kristina Blue.
Ron found joy in simple places, especially when working with his hands. He loved creating things and teaching his boys and grandkids how to turn pens, build trinkets, and assemble birdhouse clock kits. He loved being able to pass along the knowledge and skills he learned and honed throughout his life.
A devoted baseball fan, Ron cheered faithfully for the Kansas City Royals, though his favorite pastimes were those of his children and grandchildren. He supported his family in all of their passions and hobbies, whether it was sitting in the bleachers at a baseball or football field, courtside at a volleyball match, in the seats of a school theatre for a play or concert, matside of a wrestling meet, at an equestrian arena, or even on a livestreamed worship service - if someone he loved was involved, Ron showed up.
Ron believed in supporting people and programs that helped others flourish. He served as a Cub Scout leader, encouraged the work of his daughter-in-law, Hannah, at ABC Pregnancy Care Center, and became a peer counselor for families who had also lost a child to SIDS. He was a lifelong member of First Christian Church (DOC) and belonged to the Eagles, the Free Masons, the NRA, and AMAC. One of his greatest honors in recent years was traveling alongside his fellow veterans with his son Justin on Kansas Honor Flight 93 in 2022.
Over the years he has done many things to fill his time and earn a living. He spent many years selling advertising, working as a sales associate at Sears, doing carpentry and home building, and he was incredibly proud to be part of the opening crew of the Garden City Home Depot, serving as a sales associate, cashier, and tool rental aficionado, where his 22 years of service came to an end at the time of his death.
If you were fortunate enough to meet Ron, then you know that he rarely found himself in the presence of a stranger. He was always ready to make a new friend. And he had a knack for running into those friends in the most unlikely of places, even when traveling in other cities and states. It brought a smile to his face to take a moment out of his day to tell you a story or a joke, to listen to a story, or to give or take some life-advice. He enjoyed learning about and journeying through life alongside his friends.
There are so many things that will remind us of Ron, Dad, Pops, and Grampa: He loved just about any John Wayne movie or memorabilia. He once shot the head clean off of a pheasant out hunting with his boys. He always had a bad dad joke ready to tell. He always had a pen and a pocketknife in his pocket ready to lend if you needed them. He probably single-handedly kept his favorite peach drink in business. He was always equipped with a white hanky. He loved his Taco Bell outings. He loved the smell of coffee, but hated the taste, and relied on Pepsi and Mt. Dew Code Red to get the day moving. He used his cane for more than walking and was happy to hook his grandkids legs. He is probably listed in the dictionary definition of ornery. He liked to point out different wildlife for you to take a picture of when you were out in nature at the family reunions. He was always wearing jeans, and rarely was caught in shorts, even on the beach.
Most of all, we will remember how he loved good conversation and good food, and that he rarely met an ice cream he didn't enjoy. Ron was so loved; his impact is wide, and his shadow reached far. Our lives were certainly made better by his presence, and his absence will be felt, but his memory will live on in our stories and our laughter.
Other survivors include: His twin brother Donald Proffitt of Wichita, KS, three sisters, Vicki Proffitt, of Garden City, KS, Karen James of Gunnison, CO, and Sandra Proffitt of Dodge City, KS. He is also preceded in death by his brother, Boyd Proffitt.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the First Christian Church in Garden City, with Rev. Don Warren, Rev. Brandon Proffitt and Rev. Steve Ensz officiating. A private family burial will take place at a later date. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday and from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday all at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City. The family suggest memorials given to the Kansas Honor Flight in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 412 N. 7th St., Garden City, Kansas 67846. Condolences may be given at garnandfuneralhomes.com.