Roland (Ron) Duane Bortner

Sunset Memorial Park
Funeral Home and Crematory, LLC
1700 Barrington Rd. Midland City, AL
(334) 983-6604
Robert and Toni Byrd

www.SunsetMemorialPark.com

Roland (Ron) Duane Bortner, a resident of Dothan and previously of Corinth, NY passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at Wesley Manor Skilled Nursing in Dothan surrounded by his family after a short battle with Congestive Heart Failure. He was 85.

Ron was born on Sept. 1, 1932 in Fairchance, PA and grew up in East Cleveland, OH where he graduated from East Tech in 1950. He then traveled to Corinth, NY to visit his aunt and uncle and met the girl of his dreams, Elizabeth (Liz) Denton and they were married on June 7, 1951. He and Liz raised their 3 children together in Corinth. During this time, he was employed at International Paper Company where he worked in several different departments, but his true joy was during the 13+ years that he worked at the Curtis Mill Hydro Plant. You would often hear him say I would have stayed there and worked the rest of my years if they had let me!

Ron was very devoted to his church. He was Sunday School Superintendent at the Free Methodist church, was a Sunday school teacher in several churches and served on the local church board and sang in the church choir. When he wasn’t working at IP or the church you would find Ron painting houses inside and out in both Corinth and Dothan. Also Ron was a true blue dedicated Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns fan…no matter what! However nothing brought him more joy than spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was, in every way, the perfect family man! He was also a HUGE lover of animals especially his dogs (Shep, Sargeant, Cookie, Blackie and Sandi).

In September of 2000 he had the opportunity to travel to Russia on a work and witness program through the Nazarene district. What an opportunity that was for him to experience. He was a HUGE history buff. If you needed to know something about a war, battle or conflict – just ask him…he knew!!

Ron was preceded in death by his loving wife Liz of 57 years on April 14, 2008, his parents John G & Leona Bortner, mother and father in law George and Flossie Denton, a brother John (Phil) Bortner, his brothers in law Robert Denton and Howard Ralph, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Survivors include his children: Howard (Butch) Bortner (Carlotta) of Hopewell, VA, Jeffery Bortner (Jack) of Richmond, VA, and a daughter Lois Melito (Eric/Rick) of Kingsbury, NY, a daughter in law MaryLou Bortner of Chester, VA; 5 grandchildren: Amanda Schock (TJ) of Prince George, VA, Shawna Stewart of Chester, VA, Alan Bortner (Meraris) of South Chesterfield, VA, Nicole Leaf (Carol) of Charleston, SC, and Andrew Leaf (Sommer) of Palm Bay, FL; 9 great grandchildren (3 boys and 6 girls), his “favorite sister”, Audrey Pierre (Tom) of Covington Place, PA and a loving brother Frank Robert (Bob) Bortner (Marianna) of St. Petersburg, FL , sister in law Shirley Bortner Tharp (Jim) of Bozeman, MT and his Aunt Lois Link of Lutz, FL who will be 90 in March, a host daughter from the Philippines, Ma Inez Feria who were reunited in Oct 2017 after 30 years, along with many cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and church family. Last but certainly not least – his buddy/pal/best friend Larry Hardy of Dothan, AL.

Services will be conducted at Dothan First Church of the Nazarene at 12 noon on Friday February 23, 2018 by Pastor Kevin Knight and also by Pastor Bonnie Bates of the Methodist Church in Corinth, NY. The internment will take place in the spring at the convenience of the family. The family will receive friends from 11 to 12 Friday prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers you can make a donation to one of the two programs that his church is actively involved in: Brown Bag Program – providing food items to those in need and to the new after school/summer children’s program. Both were programs that he was very passionate about in his church. Dothan Nazarene, 1081 Honeysuckle Road, Dothan, AL 36305.

Robert Byrd of Sunset Funeral Home, (334) 983-6604, is in charge of arrangements. Please call us or visit www.SunsetMemorialPark.com for more information.