Ronald William Mai

A funeral service celebrating the life of Ronald William Mai, age 83, of Newark, will be held on Wednesday, December 28, at Grace Lutheran Church, 65 East Columbus Street, in Thornville. Burial will follow in Newark Memorial Gardens where military honors will be observed by the Licking County Veterans Alliance.

Friends may call at the church from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Beginning at 1:00 p.m., the Wroena Chapter #597 Order of the Eastern Star will have a service followed with the Masonic Rite being observed by the Aerospace Lodge #800 F& AM. Rev. Thomas Jacobson and Rev. William J. Rauch will then officiate the funeral service.

Ronald was born October 31, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois. He passed away on Monday, December 19, 2022 at the Selma Markowitz Care Center (operated by Hospice of Central Ohio).

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Ron faithfully and proudly served his county which included two tours in Vietnam. He retired from the military and was a programmer for many years with Dalfi/AMSEC. In his 60’s, Ron graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from DeVry University.

Ron was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Thornville and was a former member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Newark where he served on the Church Council and the Technology Committee. He was a member of numerous organizations including the San Diego Masonic Lodge #35 (Life Member) and the Aerospace Masonic Lodge #800 in Heath, the Wroena Chapter #597 Order of the Eastern Star, International Brotherhood of Magicians, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the U.S. Marine Corps League, and the Newark Maennerchor Singers. Ron’s hobbies included woodworking, magic, and singing with the Maennerchor.

He is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Linda (Smith) Mai; daughters, Laura Lee (Stuart) Mozer and Brenda Lee Mai, all of Raleigh, North Carolina; step-children, Richard (Kristina) Mitchell of Newark, Christine Lee (Christopher) Bosworth of Pickerington, and Theresa (Michael) Reeves of Baltimore; grandchildren, Brianne, Casey, Kyle, Tanner, Madison, Adrienne, Nicole, Kaitlyn and Julia; and seven great-grandchildren.

Ron was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Walter Mai; and by his mother and step-father, Mildred Lou (Sauer) Cedarwall and Ivan Cedarwall.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church or to the Foundation for Hospice of Central Ohio.

Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home in Newark is honored to care for Ron and his family.