Ronald George Bealer, 80, of Schnecksville, died Feb. 28, 2024, surrounded by his loving family in his home.

The husband of Dorothy L. (Reiss) Bealer, the couple was married 46 years.

Born Aug. 29, 1943, in Allentown, he was the son of the late Kermit A. and Mae I. (Dorney) Bealer.

A 1962 graduate of Parkland High School, he was a dual varsity letterman in both track and wrestling, and competed as a member of Parkland’s first wrestling team.

He later used his athletic prowess to become a corn hole champion in his ’70s.

He continued to be involved in Parkland and was president of the Parkland Trojan Alumni Varsity Club for 20 years.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on April 29, 1963, and was stationed on the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise CVN-65, one of the three carriers that were part of the Navy’s Task Force One.

Serving as a yeoman third class and master-at-arms, he circumnavigated the world as part of Operation Sea Orbit, a 65-day, 30-thousand-mile voyage around the world accomplished without a single refueling.

His ports of call included Greece, Turkey, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Brazil and Pakistan, among others.

He received a Golden Shellback, having the honor of crossing the equator where it dissects with the international date line in the Pacific Ocean.

He loved sharing his travel stories, and said he felt fortunate as a small farm boy who was able to see the world.

He was honorably discharged on April 28, 1965.

He began working on the assembly line at Mack Trucks in September 1968, with a self-professed job description of “eight nuts, eight bolts, next truck.”

He retired after 30 years in 1998.

He loved to be a leader, and was vice president of the Mack Ski Club, president and member of the Ironton Rail-Trail Oversight Commission and was a member of the Buick Club of America.

An active member of Union Lutheran Church, he volunteered on 20 disaster trips and on miscellaneous local volunteer projects.

He was active with the church’s Journeymen, the men’s ministry group.

He will be remembered by his family and friends as someone who lived every minute to its fullest, and who brought sunshine and a big smile (or smirk) to every occasion.

He will be dearly missed.

In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by children, Jennifer K. Bealer, Esq. and her husband, Chris E. Onwuzo, of New York City, Ronald G. Bealer Jr. and his wife, Rachel A. Bealer, of Orefield; siblings Carol Adams and her husband, Glenn, of Allentown, Roger Bealer and his wife, Cathy, and Loretta Bealer, wife of his brother, the late Thomas Bealer; and grandchildren Jack, Sophia, Charlie, Evelyn and Lillian.

His memorial services with military honors will be 11 a.m. March 16 at Union Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5500 Route 873, Schnecksville, with the Rev. Gordon A. Camp officiating.

Family and friends may pay their respects 9-10:50 a.m. Saturday in the church.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at heintzelmancares.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Trojan Alumni Club and/or to the church c/o the funeral home, P.O. Box 196, Schnecksville, PA 18078-0196.

Arrangements were made by Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Schnecksville.