Obituary of Ronald Anthony Puddister
Ronald Anthony Puddister
1957-2022
Our hearts break, yet swell with pride for the life of a wonderful man as we announce the passing of Ronald Puddister, the bedrock of our family. Ron died after a short battle with pancreatic cancer on April 29, 2022 in Kingston General Hospital at the age of 64.
The oldest of seven, Ron was born in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland to Ronald and Ruth Puddister on Sept. 12, 1957. Following graduation from Memorial University and work in the oil industry in Calgary, he enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1982. Ron served in the military for 35 years as a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, attaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel. His career included deployments to Germany, Bosnia, Rwanda, Zaire, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Jerusalem.
Ron was an avid reader, boater, fisherman, athlete, musician, and traveller who visited nearly 70 countries. But the most important thing in the world for Ron was family.
Ron is survived by his wife Joan Puddister (née Gardner), children Matthew, Bradley, and Kelly (Sasha Caldera); mother Ruth, siblings Tanya (Gary Saunders), Sheree (Craig Walsh), Glenn, Darren, Chris (Jackie), and Kerri-Lee; sister-in-law Kay Gardner; and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his father Ronald, and parents-in-law Jean and Fred Gardner. Our family remembers Ron as the best husband, father, son, brother, and uncle anyone could have asked for—and an example of what it means to do all the good we can with the short time we have on this earth.
We offer our deepest thanks to staff at the Kingston General Hospital Cancer Centre. Visitation will be at James Reid Funeral Home, 1900 John Counter Blvd., on Saturday, May 7 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Funeral service will be held in the chapel at the same location on Monday, May 9 at 1 p.m. To protect our vulnerable guests, we ask that those who wish to attend please respectfully wear masks. Burial will follow at Cataraqui Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Thomas’ Anglican Church, Kingston (https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/119202679RR0001-st-thomas-anglican-church/) or University Hospitals Kingston Foundation. For those who can not attend the Funeral Service you may join the livestream by CLICKING HERE .
