Ronald Fitch

Ronald Fitch
Having declared many times he was never going, he changed his mind. He passed away on July 26, 2025 in Traverse City, MI. Ronald W. Fitch was born the 31st of January 1933, the son of Howard and Hazel (Weaver) Fitch, in Royal Oak, MI. He graduated from Royal Oak High School in January 1951. He attended Western Michigan University and earned his B.A. Degree in Business in 1955 and his MA Degree in 1957. He did additional graduate work at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Central Michigan University. He was recognized by Pi Omega Pi, National Academic Business Honorary and was a founding member of the Michigan Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon at Western Michigan University.
Born during the Depression, with his father out of work for 12 years, he was always aware
of 'need' and took his first job at the age of 10 years old in a small neighborhood restaurant
emptying wastebaskets daily after school for $1.50 per week. He moved on to paper
routes while in junior high, and in high school, he worked daily as a stockboy/bagger
in a neighborhood grocery store. After his January high school graduation, he worked in
Detroit for Standard Accident Insurance Company until he entered college that fall. While in college, he worked 40 hours per week in a drug store in Kalamazoo to pay for his college
expenses. He was never without a job until his retirement in 1990.
Mr. Fitch moved to Midland in 1955 to teach at Midland High School and was actively involved in the Midland community since that time. Professionally, he began as a business teacher, counselor and director of the Co-op program at Midland High School for ten years before becoming Assistant Principal for an additional ten years. He was named Principal of H. H. Dow High School in 1981 and later served as the Director of School Services, managing the budget and business matters with other responsibilities for all non-instructional services, such as transportation, grounds/maintenance, custodial and food service. He was always proud to acknowledge the outstanding people with whom he worked that made the Midland Public Schools an outstanding educational success. He dedicated himself to young people and found great pleasure in his work. He believed that one person could make a difference in another's life and one of his greatest joys was to see former students as successful adults in their careers and as mature family members.
In addition to his professional career, he served as a Deacon at the Memorial Presbyterian Church, the United Way Board of Directors for six years, three as Treasurer, was elected three times to the Midland City Council and served one term as mayor-Pro Tempore. He was a member of the MidMichigan Regional Health System citizens advisory board and served several years as a volunteer for Income Tax Assistance for low-income people and the Christmas Sharing Tree project. He was also a volunteer driver for Senior Services Center and a volunteer at the Mid-Michigan Hospital Riecker Outpatient Service Center. He was a life member of the Chippewa Nature Center.
He loved his family; he was especially proud of his two daughters. He and his late wife,
Mary, moved to Traverse City in 2009 to assist with a new grandchild. He also enjoyed the 53 summers spent at the cottage on Long Lake. He particularly enjoyed the extensive travel he and Mary did after his retirement, visiting many historic places and experiencing different cultures in other parts of the world.
After his retirement, he became a skilled genealogist doing extensive work on both his
maternal and paternal lines. He was especially proud of his Scottish roots (McKay,
Morrison, Ross) from his mothers side. His fathers English roots traced back to 1621, with
the arrival of the ship Fortune in Plymouth, the second ship to arrive after the Mayflower.
He was related to the Adams family of that ship-----NOT the presidential Adams family-
more like Lurch and Morticia! (actually John). He had a wicked, quirky and irreverent
sense of humor and loved the ridiculous. One of his horoscopes once said "you have a
feisty spirit, and you say the kind of funny things that make people wonder whether or not
you're kidding. Probably even you won't know the answer to that question." He felt very
blessed in life, with his wife, his daughters and their families, his work and the wonderful people with whom he had contact in 92 years! In his later years, he read extensively and enjoyed being with former students, close friends and family.
He leaves behind daughters, Mary Lynn Hogue (Dr. Karl) of Midland and Marcia Bartlett of
Traverse City; grandchildren Colin and Conner (fiancé Payton) Hogue and Maddie Bartlett; his nephews, Jack Bertram and his son, Jason; Jerry (Tasha) and their children Liam and Keegan; niece Vicki Mabee and her daughter, Jade. He also leaves behind a lifelong adopted family in Lake Ann: Dick and the late Margaret Unger with their children Jeff and Valerie Dahlberg, Philip and Relynn Olivero, and James Unger, his son by choice and another special son by Ron's "adoption," Matt (Rhiannon) Barr and their daughter, Isla. He
was predeceased by his wife Mary, his parents, his sister, Helen Green, and niece, Azel Bertram.
A Celebration of Life will take place on September 28, 2025, from 1p.m.- 4 p.m. at
Venue 63 (1517 Bayliss St, Midland, MI 48640) with a time for sharing memories and stories at 1:30 p.m. Given his meager beginnings, it was always important to him to help others. Please consider making donations in his memory to The Open Door in Midland, MI or the Child and Family Services in Traverse City, MI. Additionally, he was very concerned about the fascist direction of the country and a donation to IPR would help to support continued free speech.
We, at Ware Smith Woolever, are honored that the Fitch family has entrusted us with the care of their loved one.