Ronald Hugh Shilling's Obituary
Ronald Hugh Shilling, age 83, passed away surrounded by family on February 8, 2024 in Charlotte, NC after a period of declining health.
Ron was born in Meadville, PA to J. Hugh Shilling and Ruth Anne Stainbrook Shilling. He was a 1958 graduate of Meadville High School and a 1962 graduate of Grove City College with degrees in education and music. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Edinboro University. He married Ella Jean (Jeanie) Livingston on June 30th, 1962 and they spent 61 happy years together, an amazing feat in this day and age. Jeanie survives him. They had two loving children who were the most important parts of their lives. Laurie Jean (Jeffrey) Hamm of Charlotte, NC and Steven Ronald (Angela) Shilling of Cochranton, PA. Laurie and Steve gave them five adoring grandchildren: Justin, Abigail and Lucas Smathers plus Maxwell and Mackenzie Shilling. They also have two step-grandchildren, Jonathan and Ella Gallo. They all survive him.
Ron’s parents as well as Jeanie’s parents, Harry Livingston and Mary McCormick Livingston, have deceased. Ron was the youngest of one daughter and four sons to Hugh and Ruth. His brother, Dan Shilling (Sharon) of Conneaut Lake, PA survives him while infant sister Shirley Anne, Dick and Jack (Marilyn) Shilling are also deceased. Two brothers-in-law, Cleon (Patricia) Livingston and David “Tut” (Doris) Livingston have deceased as has one sister-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Livingston Jamison (Jim). He and nephew, Dave Shilling always referred to each other as “Frick and Frack” due to their many misadventures in their youth working for Shilling Builders, the family business. The Shilling and Livingston clans were large with many nieces and nephews on both sides. Holiday gatherings and reunions were always large and full of laughter, good food, games and talk of sports.
Ron dedicated his life to his family, music and education. He was a teacher in the Conneaut School District for 33 years before his retirement. He taught in many areas, notably elementary school and high school music and band. Students from Conneaut Valley, Linesville and Conneaut Lake all had the pleasure of learning from him. He was a very talented musician who could play any brass instrument with tremendous skill and also had a beautiful singing voice. He spent many enjoyable years singing in the Yesterday’s Sound men’s barbershop chorus and in the Razzberries quartet with Dickie, Lawson and Bill. Oh, the great times they had. After retirement, he played baritone horn in the Queen City Brass Band in Charlotte.
Ron was a huge Cleveland sports fan and an avid golfer. These passions would frustrate anyone and he was no exception. But he never gave up on the hope that the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns would win another championship in his lifetime. Hopefully, he will be able to lend a hand from his new front row seats in heaven. He passed his love of sports on to his children, who have been equally tormented. Ron and Jeanie almost never missed a concert or game their children had, even on snowy winter nights or cold spring days. Their dedication to their family has always been so admirable. He loved to read until his very last days and always had library books lying on the stand next to his recliner.
Donations to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library Foundation would help carry on his love. Information is available at the Foundation’s website: https://foundation.cmlibrary.org/donate-nxt/
Funeral services will be private with interment will take place at the Cochranton Cemetery.
James Funeral Home is assisting the family, online condolences may be made at www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.
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