Ronald A. Fortner

Ronald Arthur Fortner passed peacefully on November 28, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was born to Otto and Emily Fortner on August 3, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois.

Ron graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago. There, he met and married the love of his life for 62 years, Vivian (Howard). Ron and Vivian have two children, born in Chicago. They moved to Bel Air, Maryland and raised their family there, residing there for more than 50 years. The family enjoyed holidays with relatives and summer vacations exploring the east coast of the United States from Maine to Florida.

Ron served in the U.S. Army and worked as an electrical engineer for 34 years with Western Electric (later becoming AT&T and Lucent). A man of commitment, he rarely missed a day of work. Ron took up painting in his retirement, attending years of art classes at Harford Community College. His moving portrait of a homeless man garnered an award and he became skilled at painting portraits of public figures. One portrait, featuring Governor William Donald Schaefer caught the eye of a local leader and was ultimately given as a gift and placed on display at the Governor’s mansion in Maryland.

He enjoyed sailing the waters of Harford County and target shooting with his dear friends. He also meticulously built radio-controlled airplanes and flew them in area airfields. He and his best buddies formed a weekly breakfast club and enjoyed their retirement years together.

Ron is survived by his devoted wife, Vivian, loving son, Mark and Kathy (Wooden) of Fallston, daughter, Karen and Eric Granger of Florida, grandsons, Michael Fortner of Baltimore and Luke Granger of Florida, his brother, Alan Fortner of South Carolina, and his beloved nieces and nephews throughout the country.

The Fortner family attended Bel Air United Methodist Church in Bel Air, Maryland for many years.

In lieu of flowers, those who desire may send contributions to: Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care, 11311 McCormick Road, Suite 350, Hunt Valley, MD 21031 or Bel Air United Methodist Church, 21 Linwood Avenue, Bel Air, Maryland 21014.