Ronald Frederick Girard

06/28/1937 - 05/05/2026

Ronald's life ended at the Boulder City Veterans' Home, two months shy of his 90th birthday. Born in Alpina, Michigan, he was the oldest of six siblings. He left behind his wife, Judy Jetter-Girard; stepson, Steve Sheehy; and step-grandson, Tyler Sheehy. Surviving siblings are Diane Baldwin and Robert and Richard Girard. Ron joined the U.S. Navy at 18, in 1955; immediately drawn to medical service, his career began as a corpsman (medic). His favorite job was working in the hospital's delivery room, providing prenatal and postnatal care to military mothers and their babies. "I never lost a 'premie' on my watch," he bragged, "and some were pretty darn small." Career advancement came a few years later, in the form of attendance at Il.'s Great LakesTraining Center's X Ray school, after which he served as a technician on the USS Marias, USS White Plains, USS Samuel Gompers and the USS Forrestal, an aircraft carrier. Unfortunately, Forrestal's airplane's engine's decibel levels caused Ron to suffer lifelong, profound hearing loss. Deployed to Vietnam during the war, his X Ray table was the first stop for all wounded. During his 20 years of military service Ron spent untold months on the ocean, as well as being land-based in Newfoundland and Guam. Before computers took over, X Ray film was developed using a series of tanks of liquid developer chemicals. which "... had an annoying habit of sloshing around on a moving ship, especially in a rough ocean." Ron retired in 1980 while stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC. He settled in California. He applied for an X Ray tech's job at a local VA. He was asked, "When can you start?" He said, "Immediately." The interviewer, who turned out to be his boss, said, "Get down there now! We'll catch up on paperwork later." The job lasted eighteen years before Ron finally retired again, and the two kept in touch until Ron's death. Most people described him as a "nice guy." His family knew him as caring, loving, sincere and patriotic. He enjoyed family visits, military history, LV Jazz Society concerts, chocolate chip cookies and Star Trek. He will be missed by all who knew him. Ronald Girard's Memorial Service will be held on June 26, 2026 at Palm East Mortuary 7600 S. Eastern, Las Vegas, NV. 89123. Services: 11:00 - Reception:12:00.

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