Ronald W. Spiers

If you ever met Ron Spiers, he considered you a dear friend, plain and simple. For 73 years, Ron collected friends everywhere he went, and worked hard to stay in touch with them until he passed peacefully on October 1 surrounded by family.

Maybe you knew Ron from his childhood in Aurora, Ill., where he was born on Valentine’s Day in 1952, served Romanian-language masses as an alter server at St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church, and proudly attended Marmion Academy. Or your paths may have crossed at Marquette University where Ron earned a degree in marketing, honed his impeccable foosball skills, and met the love of his life, Peggi, whom he remained devoted to since their marriage in 1977.

Many of you know Ron from his 30-year career at Wendy’s where he was dedicated to field marketing, brand management, and new product development. While he was proud of his work introducing Wendy’s chicken sandwiches, and the 1990s sensation “Fresh Stuffed Pitas,” it was the lifelong friendships he built there that he cherished most.

After his retirement from Wendy’s in 2013, you likely ran into Ron at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Powell where he was a founding parishioner and active member of the Men’s Club. His favorite stewardship vocation was with St. Teresa’s Outreach where he enthusiastically ran “Bread Runs” throughout Columbus, picking up unsold bakery items from local stores and delivering them directly to people in need. Ever the good and humble servant, Ron completed more than 1,000 bread runs during his time with the ministry, and continued connecting team members with organizations like St. Stephens Community House and Homes for Families long after.

If none of these encounters ring a bell, perhaps you met Ron over the years at a stamp collector’s show, on the golf course, or at a bar watching one of the countless sports teams he followed. A lifelong Pittsburgh fan, Ron issued weekly “Steelergrams” to his fellow Steelers fans for several years, but wouldn’t miss the Buckeyes on Saturday, Patriots on Sunday, the Marquette Golden Eagles on the basketball court, or the Cubbies, Red Sox, or Pirates at the ballpark.

Ron is survived by his daughters Lauren Hunter and Kelly Gibbons (Jim); granddaughters Abby, Emma, and Maggie Hunter; brother Will Spiers of Atlanta; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family – not to mention the countless friends he met along his wonderful journey through life. He is preceded in death by his parents William R. and Florence Spiers, and his beloved wife Peggi.

A Funeral Mass to celebrate Ron’s life will be held at 11am on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at St. Peter St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Powell. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made in Ron’s honor to St. Stephens Community House, 1500 E 17th Ave, Columbus, OH 43219; Homes for Families, 727 E Main St., Columbus, OH 43205; or the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (https://www.davethomasfoundation.org).