A lot of people can’t get going in the morning until they’ve had a cup of coffee. Instead of a smile or friendly “Good Morning,” they have a scowl and merely grunt.
But once they have that cup of coffee, the world begins to look a little brighter.
And that was Ron Harvey. He was God’s cup of coffee to the world.
When the members of Central Christian Church walked through the doors on Sunday morning, no matter what mood they were in, there was Ron Harvey to greet them with a smile and a handshake, brimming with the love and excitement of another day.
Ron would ask how you were and it was with the most sincerity. It wasn’t just a formality or learned response. He made you smile and got you started on your way to a brighter day.
You see, Ron Harvey loved life and the people around him. Anyone who knew Ron loved him. There wasn’t a malice bone in his body. He greeted you as if it had been years since the last time you met, even if it had only been hours.
Rarely was there a negative word coming out of his mouth, unless you count his concerns why the Reds were losing or the Buckeyes’ basketball team had lost three in a row.
Sports were one of the loves of Ron’s life. He loved watching the Reds. He really loved watching the Ohio State Buckeyes. But most of all, he loved watching the Ironton Fighting Tigers.
Football, basketball, baseball, softball, track, tiddlywinks, didn’t matter. If Ironton was playing, Ron wanted to be there to root on the kids. He was so happy when they won, but win or lose, he was already looking forward to the next time one of the teams from his alma mater would play.
And Ron had a great appreciation for other teams and players. If someone or some team played well, he wouldn’t make any excuses. They were good.
But sports weren’t the only thing that made Ron happy. He loved volunteering at the church’s food pantry twice a week. Ron was thankful that people who needed assistance could come to the food pantry to get help.
And, of course, he would great them with a smile and a friendly “Hello.”
If you needed a volunteer, you only need ask Ron once.
When my brother-in-law Cary Fairchild died back in January, Ron told Cary’s mother Phyllis Fairchild that he missed Cary and how he always gave Ron a big hug.
Ron Harvey died last Friday and it’s my guess they’re probably sharing a big hug right now.
And it’s a good bet that after Saints Peter and Paul signed you in and you walk through those golden gates, there to greet you with a smile will be Ron Harvey.
In terms of humanity, Ron was the best cup of coffee God ever made.
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Jim Walker is sports editor of The Ironton Tribune.