Ronald Hitzel, age 83, of San Antonio, FL died on Sunday, November 17, 2019 at AdventHealth Hospital in Wesley Chapel, FL. Ronald Raymond Hitzel was born on May 14, 1936 in Buffalo, New York. He and his sister, Margaret, were the children of Raymond and Loie (Fields) Hitzel.

He grew up in Buffalo, New York, attending PS 53 for grammar school and later attended Buffalo East High School with aspirations of joining the US Navy. In 1954, he was awarded a Navy ROTC scholarship to the University of Rochester and studied Metallurgical Engineering. After college, Ronald worked at Diamond Saw Mill where he met Barbara Ann Uschold. They were united in marriage on May 31, 1958 in Buffalo, NY. They started to grow their family in Alden, NY up until 1969, when a new job with Howmet Corporation relocated Ronald, Barbara, and their five sons to Lake Tranquility, NJ. In 1973, they added a sixth son. Ronald was very active in local township politics as a committeeman and served as a Scout Master in the Boy Scouts. He was nicknamed "Blacktop" which referred to his ability to crush the softball in the lake league. He was an avid Buffalo Bills fan best known for his exciting screams of "Go Man Go!" whenever a Buffalo player would get in the open field. He is famous for his expression of impatience which is, "OK Pack It Up!"

In 1990, Ronald suffered the tragic loss of his beloved wife Barbara to cancer and grieved for many months. Ronald would retire from Howmet Corporation and go on to marry Beverly Jean Case. The new couple would relocate to Murrells Inlet, SC and then onto Prescott Valley, AZ. Ronald started a new career with Beverly working as a real estate agent. Unfortunately, Ronald would again suffer the loss of his wife as Beverly passed away from cancer in 2016. Being alone out in Arizona, he relocated back to the east coast to be closer to his sons.

Those remaining to cherish his memory include his sister Margaret Bilz of Buffalo, NY. His six sons, Jeffrey and his wife Kristina of Lake Tranquility, NJ, Chris of Newton, NJ, Steven and his wife Mei of Hopewell, NJ, Tim and his wife Melissa of Lawrenceville, NJ, Ronnie and his wife Debbie of Waxhaw, NC, and John and his wife Laurie of Dade City, FL; Beverlys sons, Eric Dennis of Prescott Valley AZ, and Bodie Dennis of Flagstaff, AZ, and Beverlys mother, May A Case of Citrus Heights, CA; 11 grandchildren, Jeffrey (Megan) and Jerod (Elizabeth) Hitzel, Nicolette, Steven, and Jeremy Hitzel, David and Megan Hitzel, Kimmy (Adam) Sanford, Katie (Patrick) Cogan, and Courtney Hitzel, Olivia Hitzel; two great grandchildren, Kinley Sanford, Konrad Hitzel; along with many other relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be planned by the family to place Ronalds ashes next to his beloved wife at a mausoleum in Newton, NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimers Association.