Born on December 7, 1940, in Virginia Beach, to a large Baptist family, Ronald “Ronnie” Rue Cason shared a home with 4 brothers on 5th Street until they acquired the lot in Shadownlawn Heights. His father Clifton Wright Cason and mother Sadie Allen Cason certainly had their hands full with a house full of curious and lively boys.
Ronnie attended Virginia Beach High School class of 1959. When he wasn’t racin’ cars, chasin’ girls and raisin’ hell with his brothers and cousins, he was on or near the water. This was a theme that carried on throughout his life: whether he was driving his 1957 Ford on the beach, fishing in Rudee Inlet or waiting patiently in a marshy duck blind, Ronnie lived for the great outdoors and for the quiet beauty of nature. That is, until the most beautiful image he’d ever seen reordered his priorities forever.
Ronnie, at age 17, met Cecilia “Cil” Ruth Smith when she was just 15 at a dance at the Virginia Beach fire station. The rest is history. They were married for over 63 years.
Ronnie and Cil’s love was strong and abundant and soon they brought four beautiful daughters to the world by the time Cil was 25 years old. Family was everything to them. They both worked hard to provide while also modeling the importance of living life to the fullest, together, as a family. When Ronnie wasn’t working as one of the premier brick masons building some of the most iconic landmarks in Virginia Beach and mentoring future masons, he was water skiing at pungo ferry, fishing, clamming or crabbing off the dock of their Virginia Beach Boulevard lot with his daughters.
He carried on these traditions with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews who lovingly referred to him as “Happy Pappy.”
Other foundational memories include large family gatherings around a table full of food -- often the result of successful hunting and fishing trips. Ronnie would kick off these massive feasts by leading the family in prayer, and, during certain holidays, a thankful circle. These traditions reminded his growing family to remember the things that really mattered in life.
Creating memories with his family was important. Whether shagging or dancing the jitterbug to old Beach Music tunes or singing and dancing more recently at a Hank Williams, Jr. or Willie Nelson concert, Ronnie never missed an opportunity to find joy with those he loved around him..
The joy of dance wasn’t just the original seed for the bountiful and vibrant garden he and Cil created over their 66 years together. It was also how he went back home to his Creator on October 20, 2023. Rallying for one last dance to Little Richard’s Rip It Up, Ronnie was telling his family that the best way to honor his memory is to “go go, have a (big) time.”
Ronnie is predeceased by his parents, Clifton and Sadie Cason, and brothers, Clifton “Snookie,” Allen Lee and Aubrey Cason. He leaves behind his loving family, wife Cecilia Smith Cason and children Tammy Adams (Ron), Veronica Cason, Crystal Cason and Allie Hall (Jimmy), and brother David “Buzzy” Cason. Ronnie is also survived by nine grandchildren, Chelsea Olivieri, Allen Key, Skylar Barfield, Justin Key, Connor Hall, Cameron Fletcher, Spencer Hall, Mary Hall and Hannah Adams, and six (soon to be seven) great-grandchildren.
A viewing and visitation for Ronnie Cason will be held on Friday, October 27, 2023 from 6 pm to 8 pm and his service will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 1 pm. Both will be held at the Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kellumfuneralhome.com for the Cason family.
