Dr. Ronald Converse Wing, affectionately known as Ron, “Doc Wing,” and “Captain Ron,” entered his Heavenly Home on August 13, 2026, in Ormond Beach, Florida, at the age of 80.

Born August 17, 1945, in Atlanta, Georgia, Ron moved with his family to Daytona Beach at the age of seven. Daytona became his home and the community he loved and served throughout his life. He graduated from Mainland High School with the Class of 1963, earning an appointment at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, and went on to pursue a lifelong love of learning. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida, a Master of Education from Stetson University, a Specialist of Education degree from Rollins College, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Florida in 1986.

Ron devoted much of his professional life to education. He served as a teacher and guidance counselor with Volusia County Schools, working at DeLand High School, Ormond Junior High, and Seabreeze High School. He also served as an adjunct professor at Daytona Beach Community College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. At Seabreeze High School, he sponsored organizations including Junior Civitan and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where he had the opportunity to influence and encourage generations of young people.

A Vietnam War-era veteran, Ron proudly served 20 years in the United States Naval Reserve as a commissioned officer, attaining the rank of Lieutenant. He was the guided missile officer on the USS Mitscher, based in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba during his active duty.

Above all, Ron was a man of deep and enduring faith. A Southern Baptist, he was a member of First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach for more than 70 years. His faith was not simply something he professed—it was something he lived. He generously gave his time and resources to help the church advance its local and worldwide missions. Wherever Ron traveled, he was known to share his faith, often passing out Chick tracts to anyone who would take one. He served on short-term foreign mission trips to Brazil and St. Lucia. He had a relationship with Jesus and sought to share His love with others.

Ron had a particular gift for showing love to young people. Through his Sunday School class, he became a father figure to many young men who did not have fathers in their lives. He would take them fishing, spend time with them, listen to them, and show them the kind of brotherly and fatherly love that could make a lasting difference.

Ron was a lifelong learner and an adventurer at heart. He designed and built his own home, learned to sail and fish, became a charter boat captain, and earned his private pilot license. He loved being on the water, whether surfing, boating, sailing, or fishing. And, as a proud UF graduate, he had an unwavering love for Florida Gator football.

Music was another important part of Ron’s life. He played the trumpet in the MHS band and church orchestra, acoustic and bass guitar, and loved to sing in choir and ensembles. He also possessed a wonderful sense of humor and warmth that made people feel welcome. Ron had a way of finding humor in life and was known for his favorite expressions, including, “It’s always somethin’, ’cause it’s never nothin’.” And whenever he was searching for the right words, one could almost hear him begin, “You know what they say . . . the mind is a terrible thing.”

His love story with Bunny began with a little bit of rain and a lot of imagination. One evening, Ron and Bunny had planned to see Romeo and Juliet at the movies. A heavy rainstorm kept them waiting inside the Corvette. While they waited for the rain to pass, Ron began sketching his dream house on small 3-by-5 index cards. Somewhere between the rain, the sketches, and his vision for their future, Ron inadvertently proposed to Bunny. It was a fitting beginning for a life together full of faith, family, humor, dreams, and a home built with love. Both of them being teachers, they spent their summer vacations traveling all over the world. Ron was faithfully devoted to Bunny for 51 ½ years. What a blessing! He took great pride in her and their children.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Erma C. “Bunny” Wing; his children, Paul (Tami) Pence of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California; Mandy Wing (Eric) Foster of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Cameron (Sarah Lachman) Wing of Ormond Beach, Florida. He was blessed by nine grandchildren: Hannah, Braeden, and Brynley Pence; Will, Ewan, and Emma Foster; and Veronica, Brock, and Zoe Wing. He is also survived by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Stanley and Karen Puckett; sisters-in-law, Kim Canup and AnnaBeth Upson; his nephews, Winton Tyler, Robert Tyler and David Puckett; his niece, Kimberly Sasser; as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Converse and Ruth Stovall Wing, and his sister, Joyce Wing Weaver.

Those who knew Ron will remember his quick wit, his generous heart, his love of the Florida Gators, his adventurous spirit, and his ability to make people laugh. But most of all, they will remember a man whose life was defined by his love for the Lord, his family, and others.

His influence will continue through the family he cherished, the students he encouraged, the young people he mentored, the church he faithfully served, and the many lives he touched along the way.

Visitation will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, followed by the funeral service at 10:00 a.m. Burial with full military honors will follow the service at 12:00 p.m. at Volusia Memorial Cemetery in Ormond Beach.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, Attn: COL Building Fund or Missions.