Ronald Lee Wire, Sr., age 73 of St. Petersburg, FL and formerly of Elwood, passed away unexpectedly at his residence on Monday, October 29, 2012 after a brief illness. He was born April 11, 1939 in Kokomo, the son of Forrest and Bessie (Powell) Wire. He was self-employed as a carpenter and handyman. Ron proudly served his country in the United States Navy. He will be lovingly missed by all who knew him.

His loving family includes his mother, Bessie (Powell) Wire of St. Petersburg, FL; wife, Rosemary Wire of St. Petersburg, FL; 7 children, Marcie (husband D.J.) Jenkins of Gilmore, TX, Ron (wife Donna) Wire of Warner Robins, GA, Dawn Hill of St. Petersburg, FL, Faith (husband Mitch) Weesner of Kokomo, Larry (wife Wendy) Etts of Delta, OH, Randy Etts (fiancé Jamie) of Genoa, OH, and Brad Ice of Galveston; 5 siblings, Jeannie Stewart of Ft. Wayne, Larry (wife Lynn) Wire of Pinellas Park, FL, Diane (husband Eddie Ray) Jones of Ft. Wayne, Johnnie (wife Bernie) Wire of Largo, and Cheryl (husband Walt) Redmond of St. Petersburg, FL; 19 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; beloved dog "Tiffy"; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins in and around the St. Petersburg, Tampa, Windfall and Kokomo areas.

He was preceded in death by his father; his first wife Sybile (McCool) Wire who died December 15, 1999, and brother-in-law, Frank Stewart.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00AM on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral home in Elwood with Virgil McCool officiating. Burial will follow in Knox Chapel Cemetery in rural Fairmount with military honors provided by the U.S. Navy and Elwood V.F.W Honor Guard. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5 to 8 PM Friday, November 2, 2012 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood. Online condolences to the Wire family may be made at: www.cophfeslermay.com.