Ron E. Ginter, 83, a resident of Otterbein St. Marys Retirement Community, St. Marys, died July 7, 2014, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys.

He was born Sept. 18, 1930, in Hoytville, to Harley and Ruth Moe Ginter. On Oct. 17, 1952, he married Joanne Davis in Winchester, Ind., and she survives.

Also surviving are four children, Ronald J. (Nadine) Ginter, Celebration, Fla., Jeffrey (Geri) Ginter, Brookville, Joe (Kelly) Ginter, St. Marys, and Jane Stewart, Elkhart, Ind.; one sister, Carolyn Winkle, Findlay; five grandchildren, Scott Ginter, Megan Ginter, Candace Ginter, Kylie Stewart and Quinn Ginter; and a great-grandchild, Olivia Long.

Three brothers, George, Jim and Don Ginter, are deceased.

He graduated from Jackson Township High School in 1948, where he had a very successful sports career and was renowned for his brilliant floor play in basketball. He later tried out for the Cleveland Indians baseball team. He was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving in Japan and Korea during the Korean War.

He was a community leader who always believed in service to others and served on St. Marys City Council for 20 years - first as Fourth Ward councilman and later as councilman at large. He was proud of his independent political status and worked for the betterment of all. He retired from Reynolds and Reynolds Corp. after 36 years of service and then worked at Miller Funeral Homes in St. Marys for the next 17 years.

Over the years he coached Little League, ACME and high school baseball. He was a member of Wayne Street United Methodist Church, St. Marys, where he sang in the choir for many years and served as head usher. He was the first manager of the St. Marys Youth Center. He will be remembered for his kindness and sense of humor.

Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at the church, the Rev. Jon Kraner officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys.

Calling is 4-9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home and after 1 p.m. Sunday at the church.

Contributions may be made to the church building fund.

Condolences may be left at Millerfuneralhomes.net.