Ronnie Dilworth, 89, of Gastonia passed away peacefully on Friday August 28, 2020 under the care of his loving family and Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region – Lincolnton. Ronnie was a man who loved life and freely gave to others when he saw a need. Ronnie attended the University of Texas at Austin. Ronnie served in the Air Force Medical Unit assigned to the Army during the Korean Conflict. One of his roles during the war was to rescue and care for the wounded and deceased. Ronnie later served in the SC State Highway Patrol, but he found his passion with people selling textile machinery and parts for over 40 years. Many of these friendships continue today. He loved his family his church, traveling, gardening, canning vegetables and Clemson Football. Ronnie had a Black Belt in Judo and taught this skill to children. Ronnie never met a stranger. He love to talk to everyone. Most of all Ronnie was a loving son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved him.
Ronnie is the son of the late Bert (Hunsinger) Dilworth and Joseph V. Dilworth of Walhalla, SC. Ronnie was one of 12 children raised in a farming community in Oconee County, SC. He is preceded in death by his sisters, Ruby Dilworth, Helena Dilworth, Nonnie Marrett and Meta Neville and brothers, J.B. Dilworth, Cecil Dilworth, Robert Dilworth, Zeddie Dilworth and John Dilworth.
Left to cherish their memories of Ronnie are his wife of almost 52 years. Nancy Dilworth of the home, daughters Tracie Barton of Greenville, SC and Dawn Dilworth Manus and her husband Roger of Wake Forest and son, Ronnie Alan Dilworth and his wife Melinda of Gastonia. Missing their grandfather are his grandsons, Cole Dilworth, Trent Dilworth, Grayson Manus and Matthew Robinson. Ronnie leave behind two sisters – Lalla Fowler of Walhalla, SC and his twin sister, Rena Hamilton of Bowling Green, KY.
A celebration of Ronnie’s life will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday September 3, 2020 at Carothers Funeral Home Chapel, 2205 Williamsburg Drive, Gastonia. Ronnie will be buried at 10:00 AM on Friday September 4, 2020 at Salisbury National Cemetery, 501 Statesville Boulevard, Salisbury with full military honors accorded by the United States Air Force and The Gaston County Honor Guard. Reverend Walt Windley, IV, the chaplain of Lincolnton Hospice and a close family friend, will offer words of encouragement and hope to family and friends that gather to remember Ronnie. Ronnie’s cousins will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest that donations be made in Ronnie’s name to: The American Cancer Society, ACS CAN, P.O. Box 720295, Oklahoma City, OK 73172-0295 or www.cancer.org, or Hospice and Palliative Care, Charlotte Region, P.O. Box 470408, Charlotte NC 28247 or www.hpccr.org.
Fond memories of Ronnie and condolences for the family may be left at www.carothersfunealhomegastonia.com.
The staff of Carothers Funeral Home at Gaston Memorial Park is honored to serve the Dilworth family.
