Ronald Preston Angel

Ronnie was welcomed into the world on May 14th, 1943 to his parents, Walter Marshall Angel and Virginia Bass Angel. They lived in the Lakeside area of Richmond, VA, where Ronnie grew up alongside his brother, Robert. Ronnie and Robert shared a bedroom, spent time raising a “pet crow” named Joe, were very active in playing various sports, and enjoyed being brothers.

Ronnie didn’t know many strangers and made friends easily with his quick wit and silly personality. He and his best friends called themselves the Beauregards "gentlemen of distinction". They passed out business cards with their names and it is to no surprise that Ronnie was nominated Biggest Flirt his senior year at Hermitage High School. Their years as young adults seemed to be filled with laughter, card games, working odd jobs, cars, dances, and of course meeting girls. They were friends through and through, were in each others’ weddings, godparents to each others' children, and most recently spiritual advisors until the bitter end. Ronnie heard from almost all of them in his week prior to passing, letting him know their love and the feeling that they will see him again.

After high school, Ronnie was part of the Army National Guard and attended Louisburg College. In the summers, he worked and coached teams in football. At some point, he met the love of his life, Lyda Sanders. They would double date with the Beauregards. He would visit her at Averett College and they fell in love. He attended and graduated from RPI (VCU) with a degree in business. Years later, they married and moved for a short time to Alexandria, VA for his employment. This is where they gave birth to their first daughter, Deborah Anne (Smith). Three years later, after they had moved back to the Richmond area, they expanded their family with another daughter, Nicole Yvonne (Murray). They lived in the Forest Hill area, making friends with the neighbors and joining Southampton Club, where Ronnie spent many of his waking hours playing the other love of his life, tennis. If he wasn’t working, doing yard-work, or helping with his family, everyone knew you could find him on the tennis courts. He would enter tournaments with great friends and his father, who also shared the love of the game.

Ronnie was a salesman. Over the years he sold architectural products, such as doors and stadium seats. He enjoyed being part of the building process and with his outgoing personality, sales was a good fit. In the summers, Ronnie would work as his family moved to Gwynn’s Island to enjoy island life. He would come on the weekends to take care of the yardwork and then play with his girls and friends in the bay. He loved being able to provide this lifestyle for his family to be able to enjoy Lyda’s family’s happy place on the weekends and summers.

While raising his daughters, Ronnie always found ways to be part of every activity. He was the head coach of the Huguenot Little League softball team, the Phillies, for years. He was Soaring Eagle to his Shining Reindeer and Dancing Reindeer in the father and daughter organization of Indian Princesses. He actively coached and played tennis with them as well at Salisbury Country Club. Ronnie was not only involved, but he made things more fun in every way.

A surprise occurred when Ron and Lyda were in their last years of their 30s, her name is Ashley Mae Angel (Powell). With his older daughters being 10 and 13, you would have thought Ronnie would be tired of being involved. He proved to be a great support system for anything Ashley wanted to do as well. Once again, he suited up his Soaring Eagle leather vest and went on camping trips with another Indian Princess tribe. He coached her basketball team and found ways for her to be raised in a positive way, too.

We all got to see Ronnie’s love for Lyda as she experienced many health setbacks in her life. We watched as he treated her with love, compassion, and dignity until the end of her life. Ron and Lyda shared the love of their children, spouses, and grandchildren. They were so proud of everyone. The grandchildren called Ron “Pappy” and felt he was one of the funniest people they know. He was Pappy to Noah Tyler and Luke Aiden Smith (Debbie), Ellie Claire and Camden Allen Murray (Nicole and Jeff), and Kelsea Lyla Mae Powell (Ashley and CJ). With his grandchildren, Pappy spent many hours off the field/court coaching them, wanting them to be passionate about whatever sport they chose. He had a silly banter with each of them in their own way, and they always loved being with them. Whether it was games of Tripoley or Crazy 8s, saying things we like about each other on Thanksgiving, or letters written at Christmas, Pappy always knew ways to make things more fun and unite us as a family.

He will be remembered as a fun-loving man that others liked to be around. He had a quick wit and made others laugh. We were so lucky that he was our friend, husband, Dad, and Pappy. He will be dearly missed. On May 16th, 2025, Ronald Preston Angel took his last breath. We are at peace knowing that he had a relationship with Jesus. We believe he is reuniting with his wife, Lyda, and many more loved ones. Thank you to everyone for the support and prayers. It has meant everything to us as we went through this journey with him over the past week. While it is difficult to say goodbye, we know we will reunite with him again one day.

The family will receive friends from 5pm to 8pm on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at Woody Funeral Home, 9271 Shady Grove Rd., Mechanicsville, VA 23116.