Obituary

Ronald Bumiller
Vanport

Ronald Bumiller, Vanport, went to be with his Lord unexpectedly Friday, August 19, 2016, in Heritage Valley.
Born August 8, 1936, in Rochester, and was the son of the late Herbert J. and Martha Reed Bumiller. Ronald was a proud life-long resident of Vanport Township dedicated to serving Vanport Township as Commissioner and Water Authority President and Board member. He was active in obtaining the funding for the water purification treatment plant in Vanport, traveling to Harrisburg to request funding for building the plant. The process was so new he organized a trip to Switzerland with other board members to discuss with the manufacturer how the process worked and if it was possible to build here. In addition to building the plant, he wanted kids to have a playground in Vanport and was instrumental in obtaining funding for playground equipment and in building the tennis court. He was an active board member for the Steamfitters/Plumbers Union formerly Local 47, now Local 447, from whom he received a 50 year certificate.
Ron graduated from Beaver Area High School. While in high school at age 16, he started his working career as a bread baker for Dietz Bakery in Beaver, now known as Kretchmar’s. I remember going into the bakery with our mom and he would come out of the kitchen covered in bread flour head to toe. He loved baking even though he had to be there at 4 a.m.
Ron briefly served in the U.S. Army before receiving a medical discharge due to a hand injury. He became an apprentice for the plumbers union and later certified for the Plumbers/Steamfitters. He retired from Shippingport Power Plant in a supervisory position. His pride and joy was the designing and building his garage workshop with the intentions to use it as a hobby shop after retirement but health issues continued to interfere with his plans. He fought a courageous battle with health issues for the last 10 years. He was an avid fisherman and hunter, traveling often on fishing trips with friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved brother, Jim Bumiller on October 5, 2012; his maternal grandparents, James and Nettie (Calhoun) Reed and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Ron is survived by his loving sister, Janis Bumiller, Vanport; his loving niece, Danielle (Justin) Schlueter, MO; special cousins and extended family, June and Don Cain and children and special lifelong friends.
Friends will be received Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the TODD FUNERAL HOME, 340 Third St., Beaver, where a funeral service will conducted Thursday at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Beaver Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Ron’s memory to the Vanport Presbyterian Church, Georgetown Lane, Vanport, PA 15009.