Ronald Gene Bair

1955 - 2021

CABLE - Ronald Gene Bair, 65 of Cable Ohio, passed away on Thursday, June 24, 2021 when he lost his match with cancer.

Ron was born September 28, 1955 the son of Jason R. and Elizabeth J. (Archer) Bair Jr. Ron was a 1974 graduate of Graham High School where he wrestled and played football. He was most recently employed by Navistar International. His first love after his family of course was a tie between sports and a fair. To say Ron was a sports fan is an understatement, he was a FANatic, there was not a sport he wouldn't watch. Wrestling was his first love. In high school he was a four-time district qualifier. In 1978 he joined Jim Winkler as a volunteer coach for Urbana High School and that sparked many years of coaching. He would eventually take the Head Coach position at Urbana Jr High. He stayed with the Urbana program until 1986 when he entered college at the age of 32 and went back to the wrestling mat as an athlete. When head coach Lester Baum retired Ron took over as head coach for the Urbana University Wrestling team and spent the next four years there taking several wrestlers to the NAIA Nationals each year until the University dropped the wrestling program. He spent the next several years coaching his sons Daniel and Randy from the sidelines at Graham. One of his proudest moments was watching Daniel win the state title in 1995. He would return to coaching with Daniel, Randy and Coach Winkler for several more years at West Liberty-Salem high school.

In the summertime you could always find Ron at a fair. He was married on August 1, 1976 and honeymooned at the Champaign County Fair. If you ask his children, there was not a fair within a hundred and fifty miles that he has not been to. He very seldom missed an Ohio State Fair and never missed the Champaign County Fair.

Ron is survived by his wife of 45 years Debi (Wheeler) Bair, sons Daniel G. (Monaca) Bair, Randy (Sara) Bair; daughter, Stacy (Josh) Bair; grandchildren, Samantha, Camdon, Zeke, Emma, Mia and Cora Mae; great granddaughter, Emory Lou Bair; sisters, Shirley Dallas, De (Tim) Armstrong, Patty (Wade) Current, Kim (Jim Riley) Barnes; brothers-in-law, Mike (Kathy) Funderburgh, David Current and John Cain; father-in-law, Donald Wheeler; brothers-in-law, Donald (MaryAnn) Wheeler, John (Marsha) Wheeler; sister-in-law, Jayne (John) Woodruff; several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to Angie Lawson and his fellow co-workers of department 862 for all of their support.

He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law Shirley Wheeler; sisters Sandy Funderburgh, Lucinda Current, Janet Cain; brother Jason R. Bair III; nephew Ty Bair and niece Mandy Kiser.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in VERNON FUNERAL HOME, Urbana, Ohio. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 in the funeral home with Pastor Chris Livingston officiating.

Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Mutual.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.vernonfh.com.