Ronald Lee Stahley

Ronald "Ron" Lee Stahley passed away peacefully on October 27, 2025, at the Agape Hospice House in Landrum, surrounded by his family. Born on September 4,1940, in Danville, Illinois, he was the First son of the late Eleanor Hensley Stahley and Sam Stahley.

Ron was a veteran of the US Army stationed in Germany, where he was a member of the Boxing team. Ron was not the biggest man, but always one of the toughest. He had many entertaining stories of his youth and time in the military. After serving his country, Ron moved to Cocoa Beach at the height of the Space Program, where he worked for General Electric and met his wife of 58 years. He and Sylvia were very proud to be a part of the Apollo 11 Space Program. (First NASA trip to the Moon) Sylvia said she fell in love with those green eyes at first sight.

After working for General Electric in Cocoa Beach and Raytheon in Massachusetts, Ron and Sylvia settled in Spartanburg, where he had a 32-year career as an Electrical Draftsman for Milliken Research in Spartanburg. He was of the Baptist faith, and attended Peach Valley Baptist Church for many years.

Upon retirement, he took on his favorite role as "Papa". Ron was a very devoted and attentive grandfather to his granddaughters, Sophie and Mollie. He spent many years being their babysitter, playmate, and nap buddy. When they started school, he would not miss a performance or an award ceremony. He was so proud of the strong, beautiful young ladies they had become, both lacrosse players. He loved watching them play and cheering them on.

Ron was great with his hands and could figure out how to do most anything. His family often laughed...you did not want to be the one to work behind Ron; he made it near impossible; everything was basically disaster-proof and permanent. Anything worth doing was worth overdoing. Ron had a way with animals; all the dogs and cats loved him. He had many devoted pets over the years. If he were in his chair, Duke and a cat wanted to be in his lap with everyone else not far away.

Despite a long battle with COPD, Ron never let it stop him; he was the ultimate do-it-yourselfer right up to the end. If he was not watching AMC or Turner Classic Movies, he was in his Garage building or working on something. You could find him at Bingo every Friday and loved his trips to Vegas.

Ron could be very intimidating and a man of few words, but he could not have had a bigger heart or been more generous to the people he loved. You knew exactly where you stood with Ron. He spent many years volunteering at the Spartanburg Children's Shelter, Peach Valley Baptist Church, estate sales, and fundraisers. Ron was always willing to help any way he could. He loved to play cards and always expected to win! It did not matter who he was playing or what he was playing; you did not get a pass. Papa played to win! In his youth, he was named State Marble Champion. Ron was an avid bowler and spent many years on a bowling league with one of the fastest balls and loudest strikes ever, even appearing on "Bowling for Dollars". He was great at shooting pool and could run a table in a minute. Served him well in his youth.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Robert Stahley.

He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Poteat Stahley; daughters, Diana Stahley Pavlick (Michael), Laura Lee Loyd (Bryan), granddaughters; Sophie Pavlick, and Mollie Pavlick, fur babies; Duke, Marlee, Shrimp, Peaches, and Bucky.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Cherokee Springs Baptist Church, 2699 Chesnee Hwy, Spartanburg, SC 29307

A funeral service to celebrate Ron's life will be held at 2:00PM on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, in the Chapel of Eggers Funeral Home of Chesnee with Pastor Milton Drake officiating.

Committal will follow in Springhill Cemetery.

The family is at the home.