Rodney "Ronnie" Forrest Unrue

Rodney Forrest “Ronnie” Unrue, of Monroe, VA passed away Thursday, March 13, 2025. Ronnie was born May 16, 1947, in Lynchburg, VA to Charlie and Minnie Daniel Unrue. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters Charlene Clements of Roanoke, VA; Margaret Thompson of Hampton, VA; Mary Unrue of Amherst; his brother, Robert “Bobby” Unrue of Lynchburg, VA; and his half-brothers, Millard, Calvin, and Grover Unrue of Lynchburg, VA.

Ronnie is survived by his wife of 56 years, Benita Unrue; his daughter, Janell Stinnett (H.B.) and his son, Bobby Unrue (Angela). He was also survived by his two granddaughters, Parker Stinnett Conrick (Eoin), Hunter Lacey Stinnett (Bruce) and his “chosen granddaughter” Meghan Shortt (T.J.); his sister, Madeline Willis of Lynchburg, VA; and his many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great great-nephews.

As an active member of Bethany United Methodist Church, Ronnie enjoyed his Sunday mornings with the other members and working on the building and grounds to ensure the church was in the best condition. Prior to joining his home church, he was also a member of First Baptist Church Monroe where he and his wife raised their children. Not often were the Baptist doors open that he was not in attendance. Ronnie served the church in numerous capacities: Deacon, helped with the youth group, chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee, participated in the church softball league and the like.

Ronnie was a veteran from the United States Marine Corps Reserves. He volunteered as a Bruins Football and Dixie Youth Baseball Coach while his son participated. Ronnie continued serving the community as a member of the Amherst County Lions Club for over 45 years. You probably met him a time or two if you purchased brooms or a Christmas tree from the Ambriar Shopping Center and most likely a ticket for a Lions Club Raffel. For many years, he assisted with the Amherst County Christmas Parade. Lately, he and his wife delivered food to local residents through Lynchburg Meals on Wheels.

After many years of service with the company, Ronnie retired from Taylor-Ramsey Corporation. As a young man managing lumber mills in Manassas and Natural Bridge, VA, he quickly moved through the company to dispatcher for transportation of tractor trailers and ending with sales in hardwood lumber. Ronnie was honored to work with the men and women of Taylor-Ramsey where he built tremendous lifelong friendships.

Benita was the love of Ronnie’s life. He loved the life they built and the family they raised. Times were tight as they were for most people, but they made sure their children understood unconditional love and that family and church came first. Ronnie’s second greatest love were his granddaughters. He never missed a birthday, special occasion, ballgame, cheerleading event, move into college, graduations or house moves.

For most of his life and into retirement, Ronnie devoted his time to his father-in-law’s cattle farm. Born a city boy, he definitely thrived in the country where he enjoyed “hay season”, getting up the cows, checking the cows daily and grumbling a little about having to fence. You could find him most days working on farm equipment side-by-side with his son, son-in-law, and farming friend, Doug. Nothing made him much happier than riding into the cow pasture with his granddaughter, Hunter to check the cows and determine which cows stayed and which ones went to the market. Together, they kept the spreadsheet up to date as he taught her the farming business and she taught him to manage technology. Ronnie also loved traveling to Northern Virginia to visit his oldest granddaughter, Parker and her husband. Being part of their lives in their new home was very important to him.

In his youth, Ronnie could be found on Pennsylvania Avenue in Lynchburg playing ball of any sort with his brother, cousins and many neighborhood friends. He loved to tell stories about the escapades and mischief that transpired in that neighborhood. Those stories were a great source of entertainment and enlightenment for years as he told them around the dining room table with Carter, Wayne, and Brent. Ronnie’s cherished memories were playing with his much-admired older brother, Bobby. He often reminisced about playing football for E.C. Glass and delivering newspapers in the Fort Avenue neighborhoods with his brother.

Ronnie will be deeply missed by many for his quick wit, outgoing personality, service, and ability to consume all the oxygen when he entered a room.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm on Monday, March 17, 2025 at Whitten Monelison Chapel.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at Fort Hill Memorial Park with Pastor Bob Parks officiating.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Amherst County Lions Club, the American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.