Ronald Martin Ellis, 65, of San Antonio, Florida, passed away on Sunday, April 6, 2025.

He was born on February 14, 1960, in Lawton, Pennsylvania, to Phyllis and Ralph Ellis. During his teenage years, he relocated to San Antonio with his mother, Phyllis Rhoden (formerly Ellis), her new husband Eurie Rhoden, and their blended family.

Ron is survived by his children: Rachel Pettengill (Ken Pettengill), Mathew Ellis (Tiffany Ellis), Bradley Ellis, Joshua Ellis, and Christopher Ellis. He was preceded in death by his son, Keith Ellis, in 2024.

He is also survived by his grandchildren: Jacob Pettengill, Elijah and Madelyn Ellis; his former spouse and mother of his children, Cindy; his brother David; both his mother Phyllis, and his father Ralph; and his step-siblings Steve and Carol.

Ron found his greatest peace in nature. Hunting and fishing were his lifelong passions, and he felt most at home in the woods, surrounded by wildlife. He loved sharing that connection with his grandson Jacob, taking him to the game reserve as often as he could to hunt, explore, and spend time together outdoors. Throughout the years, he spent a lot of time on and around the water, fishing—most often with Keith and Chris, but with any of his children whenever he could. He also loved visiting Elijah and playing with him, and was completely giddy any time he got to see Madelyn and make her giggle.

In the early 2000s, Ron devoted nearly half a decade to the baseball field, coaching his sons' teams and cheering on his daughter during her softball games. Some of his proudest memories came from watching his kids play, laugh, and grow.

Ron also treasured his friendships. He remained close with his oldest friends—Larry, Mike "Rojo", DT, and Scott—for over forty years, and in the last decade built a deep and constant bond with Jacob Blomeley, who became like family. They spent time together nearly every day—playing chess, sharing stories, and enjoying each other's company.

In recent years, Ron had been successfully rebuilding and even strengthening his relationships with Rachel, Keith, Matt, and Brad, while remaining especially close with Chris. Throughout Chris' five-year prison sentence, Ron provided consistent emotional and financial support, standing by him with unwavering love and dedication; proud of the changes his son was making and excited to see where life took him.

In his final days, Ron spoke often about how much he loved his family. He reflected with deep emotion and remorse for mistakes he had made, and took pride in being the grandfather he had grown into. His presence will be remembered with both laughter and compassion by those who knew him—larger than life, full of stories, and always uniquely, unmistakably Ron.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Monarch Pavilion at Colt Creek State Park in Lakeland, Florida. It will be a potluck gathering—guests are welcome to bring a dish, but it's not required.

Please do not send flowers or plant a tree, delivery to the park is very difficult.