Ronald (Ron) Lee Williams, 76, of Fishers passed away in his home surrounded by his family on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. He was born in Richmond, Indiana on July 13, 1946, to Frank Williams, Jr. and Ruth (Goodwin) Williams. Ron grew up in Dalton, Indiana and graduated from Hagerstown High School (1964) where he met Linda, his best friend and partner for life. They attended Indiana University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology. He remained a Hoosier fan for life and was very pleased that both of his children and his two older granddaughters graduated from Indiana University. While attending the University of South Florida he married Linda on June 8th, 1971. He obtained his Master of Science degree in Mammalogy and Physiology in 1972. Ron and Linda returned to Indiana, and eventually settled in Fishers, where they built their home, created their garden, and raised their children. Ron established his career in sales and owned Apex Indianapolis until his retirement in 2019.
To many who knew Ron, “Ron and Linda” was one word. Besides his family, Ron had many joys including gardening, travelling, and collecting. He created a magical garden at his home full of artifacts found on trips. Ron and Linda loved sharing their garden on tours and entertaining friends. He loved the fact that his granddaughters thought it was created just for them, and he was delighted that all four granddaughters were involved in garden tours.
His love of gardens and gardening led Ron to serve as an officer in several organizations including the Indianapolis Hosta Society, the American Hosta Society, Indiana Orchid Society, and most recently the American Boxwood Society where he was serving as vice President. One of his proudest accomplishments was serving on the board of the Ambassador House and Heritage Gardens in Fishers, Indiana where he was instrumental in procuring a huge number of plants for the garden. He also helped to establish the Madelyn F. Elder orchid collection at Newfields.
His love of travel was shared with many when he and his wife established Garden Travelers, a company that planned tours of European gardens. For over twenty-five years they coordinated tours of historical European gardens and private sites. Ron was a student of garden history and history in general and loved sharing his knowledge with friends and family, or anyone who would listen. One of his favorite things was taking someone to Europe for the first time and surprising them with something special. Although he loved all travel, his favorite country was Italy. It made him extremely happy that he was able to share some of his favorite spots with all four of his granddaughters. They were indeed the light of his life.
Ron is survived by his wife of more than fifty years, Linda (Hays); his son Bryce (Kim) Williams of Fishers; granddaughters Sydney Williams and Morgan Williams; his daughter Kristen (Will) Kinnamon of Fredericksburg, Va; granddaughters Evelyn (Ellie) Kinnamon and Emma Kinnamon; one brother Dick Williams of Tucson, Az. He will also be missed by many friends and those that he traveled with over the years.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Tom Williams; and his favorite cat Simba.
Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00PM on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at the Historic Ambassador House and Heritage Gardens (10598 Eller Road, Fishers, IN 46038).
Ron will be missed by all who knew him. Traveling with him and Linda (Italy and France) will forever be special memories for me and those who traveled with them. The two of them together made one heck of team! RIP Ron Williams.
Go IU! Tha’ts hard for me to say as A Purdue fan but I said it to you for all the bets we made back in the day. Sorry for your loss and I am thinking about you!
What a lovely write up. I know more about Ron now. Ron had a lot of presence and I’m sure his loss leaves a big hole as well as wonderful memories. Thinking about you Linda and your kids and grandkids! ❤️
So sorry he is gone, the memories of you two are priceless. You were the perfect couple. We are thinking if you Linda.
So sorry for your loss, what a beautiful write up of his legacy. So many great memories you have of your beautiful life together. He will be greatly missed by many. Hugs to you and prayers for you and all.
Beautiful tribute to a very special man. I am so grateful to have known him.
Thank you for sharing what a wonderful story of his life. He will be missed!
Although I only enjoyed glimpses of Ron occasionally during the past 40 plus years and most often through the eyes of Linda, the bond and closeness of this dual was evident. This couple could and should serve as testimony to how a true life partnership works. Life will be different for you Linda but as you take that strength, determination and all the tools that you honed while being by Ron’s side all these years, you too will have yet another chapter. Hang onto the memories as they will serve as a reminder of such great love. Go Hoosiers and rest Ron….your work on this side is complete.
I’m was sad to hear of Ron’s passing. A fellow classmate in high school & college, who I considered a close friend
and shared a lot of laughs in our younger years.
Linda, please accept my deepest sympathy to you and your family.
I am glad to hear that Ron will be remembered, honored and celebrated at The Historic Ambassador House & Heritage Gardens where he contributed so much! Wish he was still with us!
What a true treasure Ron (& Linda) have been in this life! The beautiful treats that have been brought to life & the legacy that is left behind because of Ron’s unending dedication to what a garden can do to enhance a person’s experience in life, will go on for many, many years to come at The Historic Ambassador House & Heritage Gardens! So much of Ron’s verve is evident there, & I’m so very thankful to have gotten to be a part of Ron & Linda’s time there! Thank you, Linda, for sharing him with us! I am looking forward to celebrating his life so well lived! My deepest sympathies & condolences to you, Linda & the family & to all who will miss Ron’s presence here on earth! May his path be sweetly lined with all of the treasures he shared with us here on this realm! With love…
Dear Linda, we are so sad to hear of Ron’s passing. You both have been so generous over the years allowing Olivia and I join so many of your European tours (Prague, Rome, Madrid and Glasgow to name a few). Your kindness gave us time with the Gumpers’ that was so precious and also allowed us to know Ron (and you, of course). We could (and did) listen to Ron and Mike discuss & debate history, politics life and gardening for hours on those trips. We enjoyed every moment and are forever indebted to you both. Our love and condolences. Jacob and Olivia, Dublin – Ireland
Dear Linda, Remember the laughter. Remember the smiles. Remember all you shared. (And, I remember the walls in France Ron and I held up together!)
Our memories can never be erased. He will be missed always. Marti Stigers 3/19/23
We just learned yesterday of Ron’s passing. He was our neighbor for many years, and we shared our love of plants with him and Linda. He was generous in gifting perennials to us and touring his landscape will always be etched in our memories.