Soulsbyville, CA…Ronald “Ron” Franklin Roland died peacefully in his home in Soulsbyville, CA, on October 21st, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Ron was born in Flintstone, MD, on February 28th, 1933, to Franklin Roland and Mary Catherine (McKenzie) Roland. He was christened at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cumberland, MD, on March 18th, 1933. Ron was a gifted baseball player at Flintstone High School, where he graduated in June, 1951.

After graduation, Ron found work in and around Allegany County, MD, and Washington, D.C., as well as a brief stint at Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Baltimore, MD. Ron left Washington, D.C., for California in October of 1952, working various jobs until joining the United States Marine Corps on March 25th, 1953. During his enlistment, Ron was stationed in Jacksonville, FL, Marine Air Wing, Barbers Point, HI, and El Toro Marine Base, CA. Ron married his first wife, Dolores Wilkins, of Cumberland MD., on July 22, 1953. They had two children, Cheryl and Lisa.

After his honorable discharge from the USMC in 1956, Ron moved to Bakersfield, CA, going to work for Richfield Oil Company. Ron started out as laboratory clerk before becoming an office manager for Richfield’s natural gas department from 1958-1963. Ron moved to Alameda, CA, in 1963, finding work as a skilled carpenter in general construction. He and Dolores were divorced in 1965.

In 1966, Ron married Bonnie (Heinrichs), and they spent many happy hours camping in Tuolumne County, growing to love the beauty of its small towns and back country. In 1971, they moved briefly to Chinese Camp, CA. Ron then began construction on his beautifully crafted custom home on Half Mile Rd. in Tuolumne. Ron began work on the home before he had electric power to the property-most of the carpentry was done by hand, without power tools.

He and Bonnie started Roland Construction, building fine custom homes in and around the Sonora area. They had a son, Jason. Ron and Bonnie were divorced in 1999. Ron continued to work as a skilled carpenter until the late 1990s.

Ron married Paula (Abbott) in 2000, and together they created a lovely home in Soulsbyville, CA. Ron found real contentment and pleasure in working on landscaping and carpentry projects in and around his homes, and in his later years, he enjoyed working in his small hobby vineyard. He was the proud original owner of a classic yellow 1970 Ford F-250, a truck that he doted on until he passed away.

Ron was preceded in death by his sister, Joyce McCusker, of Little Orleans, MD. Ron is survived by his loving wife, Paula, his brother Pat in North Carolina, and his brother Bill (Joann) in South Carolina, as well as his children Cheryl (Edward), Lisa (Bill), and Jason (Jennifer), his stepdaughters Jody and Allison, and grandchildren Amy, Brett, Ryan, Cameron, Quentin, Ella, Madison, Jayden, Patrick, Keith, and Allyssa and great-granddaughter Rosalyn. Ron will be missed by his many longtime friends in Tuolumne County.

The family would like to thank Bristol Hospice of Modesto. Donations in Ron’s memory can be made to the Humane Society of Tuolumne County. Private internment.