Ronald Lair

Ronald “Ron” Charles Lair, 75, of Napa, passed away peacefully Sunday, March 1, 2015 surrounded by his family after an extended illness.

Born February 5, 1940 in Huntsville, Alabama, he moved with his a family as an infant to Pope Valley and attended local schools. He enlisted early in the United States Air Force and served honorably for four years in Anchorage, Alaska. In 1961, Ron married the former Audrey Steiner, and the couple raised three sons on Meadowlark Drive in Napa. He spent more than 25 years at Napa’s Black Hawk Body Shop as the firm’s senior body and fender man, and in 1980 secured a position as a painter at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard working on ships and submarines. After the closing of the shipyard, Ron transferred to Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, eventually retiring after 18 years service. In 1991, Ron married Karen Lair who preceded him in death in 2014.

In retirement Ron kept active serving as campus supervisor at Vintage High School for a number of years. Patrolling the campus, checking passes and corralling students to class, he was respected by the young people who gave him the nickname “Cowboy Ron”—amazed at his ability to run after them in cowboy boots! Ron’s sons recall their father as a “kind, generous man with an easy going nature” and his willingness to “give you the shirt off his back”. The family home was always open to his sons and their friends, many of whom remember Ron as a solid and good example of a being a man. In his youth, Ron tackled bull riding and was always a rodeo fan. He also liked to hunt with friends in search of wild boar, elk and deer, and was always up for fishing trips for trout and steel head.

Ron is survived by his three sons: Rick Lair, his wife Amy, and their children Jake, Gabe, Nate, Abigail, and Ben; Mike Lair, his wife Catalina, and their children Josh, Mika, and Sebastian; and Mark Lair, his wife Gisella, and their children Matthew and Sophia; Ron’s former wife Audrey Theobald; and his two brothers, Jack Lair and his wife Karen, and Al Lair and his wife Della. Also surviving are Karen’s children: Sherry Fitch, Penny Bradshaw, Tracy Elliott, Bob Paul, Dan Paul, Steve Paul and their children and families.

The memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 21, at the Tulocay Funeral Home Chapel, 411 Coombsville Road with Chaplain Lee Shaw officiating. Committal will be private and at a later date.

The family wishes to express their gratitude for the loving care provided by the staff of the Berkshire Assisted Living Facility in Napa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Law Enforcement and Fire Service Chaplaincy of Napa County, P.O. Box 2022, Napa, CA 94558.

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