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Ron lived a life marked by courage, service, and an unwavering love of adventure — on the ground, in the air, and on the open water.

Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Lee King, 78, of Winchester, Tennessee, took his final flight home on Friday, October 2, 2026, following injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident near Dunlap, Tennessee. Ron lived a life marked by courage, service, and an unwavering love of adventure — on the ground, in the air, and on the open water.

Ron was born May 6, 1948, in Grenada, to the late Lee Andrew King and Betty Jane Juchheim King. A native son of Grenada, he carried the heart of his hometown with him throughout a life that took him across the world and back again.

Ron answered the call to serve his country in the United States Army, where he became an aviator and ultimately retired with the distinguished rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His service included time overseas during the Vietnam War, and he later put his exceptional skills to use as an experimental test pilot. Flying remained a lifelong passion — after his military career, Ron continued to take to the skies as an agricultural aviator, and he also spent time as a sailboat captain, equally at home navigating the open water as he was soaring above it.

A true motorcycle enthusiast, Ron logged countless miles riding across the country in honor and support of his fellow Vietnam veterans. He proudly served as President of the national "Run for the Wall" organization, helping lead the annual cross-country ride that honors those who served and those who never came home. At the time of his passing, Ron was on a mission with "Combat Hero Bike Build," still giving of himself in service to the veteran community he cherished so deeply.

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He will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, his devotion to his fellow veterans, and the countless lives he touched along every road, runway, and waterway he traveled.

A man of faith, Ron was a member of First Baptist Church – Grenada, where his roots and his beliefs remained strong throughout his life.

Ron's legacy is one of honor, service, and freedom — a pilot, a patriot, and a rider who never stopped moving forward in support of others. He will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, his devotion to his fellow veterans, and the countless lives he touched along every road, runway, and waterway he traveled.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM Friday, October 9, 2026 at McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada with Rev. Zach Sanford officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in the Woodlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service Friday at McKibben and Guinn.

Survivors include his mother, Betty Jane Juchheim King of Grenada; daughter, Renee Roney of Winchester, TN; son, Ronald King(Carrie) of Fairhope, AL; sisters, Ginny Sutherland(Joe) of Duck Hill and Gaylan Ryals(Billy) of Winona; brothers, Donald Wayne King(Ruby) of McMinnville, TN, Richard King(Cindy) of Grenada and Frank King(Patricia) of Daphne, AL; three grandchildren, Noah King(Ali), Miah King and Sam King; and two great-grandchildren, Waylon and Wyatt King.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada, (662-307-2694).