Ronald Jay Thiele was born at home in South Fallsburg, New York on June 18, 1933 to Alvin Herman Thiele and Elizabeth Jane Haren Thiele. He was the sixth of seven children. Thiele grew up in South Fallsburg and graduated from Fallsburg Central High School in 1951. He died September 7, 2022 in Monument, Colorado. He was 89 years old.

Ronald was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife of 40 years Judith (Judy) Ellen Grabher Thiele, his son Kenneth, sisters Mary and June, and brothers Alvin, John, Douglas and Carl. He is survived by his son Eric (Christine), daughter-in-law Michelle, grandsons Joshua and Conor, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Thiele spent almost six years in the Air Force (1951 to 1957). His most significant assignment was in the Strategic Air Command as a navigator-nuclear bombardier on the B-47 Stratojet bomber with numerous overseas TDY assignments. He left the Air Force to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies in business administration at the University of Denver. He was a member of Delta Sigma Pi (professional business fraternity).

After six years with Conoco Oil and several years with the New York Telephone Company, Ronald spent the next 30 years in pharmaceutical marketing with a division of Bristol Myers Squibb. He retired in 1988. He and Judy then divided their time between their winter home in Mesa, Arizona and their summer “mountain” home near Jefferson, Colorado.

Thiele was a member of the B-47 Stratojet Association and a life member of the Air Force Navigators Observers Association (AFNOA). He was a Junior Achievement advisor for many years, and a member of Sertoma International. He had a profound dedication to conservative political ideas.

Ron and Judy were married in 1963 in Denver, Colorado. They had two sons, Eric and Kenneth. He was extremely proud of their academic and professional achievements.

Interment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation (t2t.org/donate/).

Funeral arrangements by the Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary.