After he was graduated from Hermitage High School, Ronnie joined the United States Marine Corps, and when he returned home, he worked for many years as a manager for Safeway Stores. After leaving Safeway, Ronnie became a computer network engineer with the Virginia Division of Vital Records. He was survived by his daughter Eva "Missi" Barker and her husband Glenn, his son Robert A. Gambill, and his two grandchildren, Hunter and Hayley Barker.  Ronnie passed away on April 5, 2012.