Was the 8th of June 1993, having just left the Army and looking for a job fate found me in the parking lot of England's Stove Works. I was looking for Ron England, a man I had never met but one who my father had a lot of respect for having worked with him back in the early 70's in a paper mill nearby.
A truck pulls up and this fellow gets out heading towards the door to the office. I walk up and ask "hey man, can you tell me where I can find Ron England?" he said "Im Ron",he snorts (as he did a lot)
"who the hell are you?" I introduced myself, he says "ohh your JD's boy, come on in here." we spoke for a bit , he asked me what I knew about pellet stoves, I told him (honestly) I didn't know what a pellet stove was , but I grew up with one of his woodstoves, he said , well the less you know the better less bad habits to deal with. long story short , he hired me that day and thus began a relationship that lasted 21 years and ten days. During that time he went from being my boss, to my mentor to my friend (without having any issue at all reminding me he was still my boss)to practically family. Other than my own father who I treasure more than anyone else there has been no man who has had a greater impact on my adult life. He gave me guidance on the industry while at the same time allowed me enough autonomy to learn as I worked for him. during this time the company grew to become one of the largest manufacturers in the industry under his leadership.
Going back to the day Ron and I met I found out his father was in the hospital with cancer, Bob England died a few months after I started there. I never got to meet him though my dad knew his well also. was in retrospect a loss for me having spent so much time with Ron and his family.
Today came a far greater loss. my boss, friend, mentor , adopted "uncle" practically a hero to me, passed away. Ron lost his own battle with cancer this morning. I found out about 9 this morning via a text from Andy over at AMFM i was in my shop at the south plant fixing a stove that had a problem and was pulled from the assembly line. after reading the text message , I just stood there looking at the stove lid flipped up welding lead in my hand for a minute or two, flipped my lid back down stuck my head in the stove and realized I couldn't see what I was doing. came back out stripped my gear and stepped outside sat down in the grass and cried like a baby.
Ron England is survived by his wife Vera, his daughters Tracie and Molly, and a factory full of people who dearly loved him.
A truck pulls up and this fellow gets out heading towards the door to the office. I walk up and ask "hey man, can you tell me where I can find Ron England?" he said "Im Ron",he snorts (as he did a lot)
"who the hell are you?" I introduced myself, he says "ohh your JD's boy, come on in here." we spoke for a bit , he asked me what I knew about pellet stoves, I told him (honestly) I didn't know what a pellet stove was , but I grew up with one of his woodstoves, he said , well the less you know the better less bad habits to deal with. long story short , he hired me that day and thus began a relationship that lasted 21 years and ten days. During that time he went from being my boss, to my mentor to my friend (without having any issue at all reminding me he was still my boss)to practically family. Other than my own father who I treasure more than anyone else there has been no man who has had a greater impact on my adult life. He gave me guidance on the industry while at the same time allowed me enough autonomy to learn as I worked for him. during this time the company grew to become one of the largest manufacturers in the industry under his leadership.
Going back to the day Ron and I met I found out his father was in the hospital with cancer, Bob England died a few months after I started there. I never got to meet him though my dad knew his well also. was in retrospect a loss for me having spent so much time with Ron and his family.
Today came a far greater loss. my boss, friend, mentor , adopted "uncle" practically a hero to me, passed away. Ron lost his own battle with cancer this morning. I found out about 9 this morning via a text from Andy over at AMFM i was in my shop at the south plant fixing a stove that had a problem and was pulled from the assembly line. after reading the text message , I just stood there looking at the stove lid flipped up welding lead in my hand for a minute or two, flipped my lid back down stuck my head in the stove and realized I couldn't see what I was doing. came back out stripped my gear and stepped outside sat down in the grass and cried like a baby.
Ron England is survived by his wife Vera, his daughters Tracie and Molly, and a factory full of people who dearly loved him.
