Ronald O. Claing

August 31, 2026 — The world lost another hero when Ronald O. Claing, 78, passed away after a long illness in McAllen, Texas. Born in Rhode Island to the late Ovide and Adeline (Mello) Claing, Ron was the older brother to Rosemary (Rybka) and Morris. Ron married the love of his life, Suzanne (Chamberland); he said he knew he would marry her after their blind date, and always called her his “beautiful bride.” They managed life’s ups and downs for 55 years and never stopped laughing. His heart bursted with pride for his two children and their spouses: Dave and his wife, Sarah; and Laurie and her husband, Trent. He also adored all of his furry children including a very special dog named Larry. Ron was one of those people who could fix or build just about anything. His love of cars began when he was a boy and never went away. He made sure his children knew how to change the oil in their cars when they were teenagers, and finally got himself a smokin’ Corvette when he was in his 60s. Ron’s sense of public service ran deep; it was the kind that combined bravery with self-sacrifice. He began his military service in 1968 when he was drafted into the Army for the Vietnam War, where he was awarded a Purple Heart. After his active duty ended, he transferred to the United States Army Reserve and the Air Force National Guard, where he worked in fire protection and was a fire chief. He returned to active duty during Operations Bright Star, Just Cause, and Desert Storm. Despite being severely disabled as a result of his service, he always said that he would return if his country called. In civilian life, Ron started as an EMT and a firefighter in Coventry, RI. Later in his career he taught fire service training across the state of Kansas for the University of Kansas extension school. He finished his career working for the Maine State Department of Transportation. His instinct until the very end of his life was to run toward a fire to help those trapped inside, even when his legs could no longer carry him. Funeral mass will be September 16th, 9:00 AM, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in McAllen, TX. Burial will follow at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to make a donation to your local fire department or VFW.