Ronald Hervey Lafond

March 15, 1942 - March 23, 2020
Ronald Hervey Lafond

Memorial Gifts & Donations




Ronald Hervey Lafond of Wilmington passed away from complications of pancreatic cancer on Monday, March 23,2020 at his home in Autumn Hall, Wilmington, NC, with family by his side. He is survived by his wife Ursula, daughter Shari Thompson, son Ron and his husband Mike, grandsons Jackson and Alexander Thompson, brother Lawrence and his wife Claudette of Salem, NH, sister Diane and her husband Bill O’Brien of Hypoluxo, FL, and several nieces and nephews.

Ron was born on March 15, 1942, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and attended local schools before graduating from then Lowell Technological Institute (now UMass-Lowell) in 1963 with a B.S. in Industrial Management. He later received his MBA from Golden Gate University in 1974. He entered the US Air Force in 1964 and completed a 23-year aviation career that included flying C-130, C-141c and C5A aircraft as an aircrew navigator. In 1968-69 he flew Tactical Airlift missions in Vietnam and received several Air Commendation medals. During this time flying in and out of the Vietnam theater, Ron met and began dating Ursula, and they married on June 2, 1973, at Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield, CA.

His last flying assignment was with the Blue Tail Flies of the 435th Tactical Airlift Wing, Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, in the early 1980s. He then completed several assignments at the Pentagon retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1987. His second career was spent working for the US Army in aviation and acquisition positions as a contractor at the Pentagon and Huntsville, AL, supporting the Apache Attack Helicopter program.

Ron and his family moved to Wilmington in 2007 to be closer to their daughter and grandsons. He was heavily involved in Wilmington sports activities over the last 10 years including Wilmington senior softball and YMCA basketball, and participated in two National Senior games in men’s softball receiving gold medals with his teams in 2011 and last year in Albuquerque, NM. Ron served on several residential Homeowners’ Associations including Autumn Hall, where he was known as “the unofficial Mayor”. He also volunteered his time with the New Hanover Board of Elections for over ten years as a precinct judge and one-stop voting official and worked for the New Hanover County tax office’s Board of Equalization and Review.

Given the unprecedented circumstances of these uncertain times, Wilmington Funeral and Cremation will post your condolences online at wilmingtoncares.com in lieu of a viewing.
The following services will be held at a later date:
• A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Mark Catholic Church, Eastwood Road, Wilmington; and
• Interment with Full Military Honors will occur at Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider sending memorial contributions to the following organizations that support causes that were dear to Ron:
• Fisherhouse.org – helping military families;
• Stjude.org – supporting children with advanced cancers and other medical needs; and
• ASPCA.org – supporting pets and animals.

You may share memories and condolences with the family by clicking on the “Post a Condolence” tab below.

Wilmington Funeral & Cremation 1535 S.41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-791-9099.


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  • April 02, 2020
    Sabine Matzer u Gerhard Ameres says:
    Dear Ursel & Family, we are still shocked that you lost your husband, father & grandfather. Two years ago we spent a wonderful week in your home. Such a great time together. And we had so many beautiful happy hours together. And when we went away we thought we will see eachother again. Ron was a strong and healthy man. It was not in our mind that we saw him the last time. So sad. Liebste Ursel, wir drücken euch alle ganz fest und sind in Gedanken täglich bei dir. Die Kerze brennt immer am Abend für unsere lieben Verstorbenen. Wir sehen uns wieder - for sure. Ihr habt unser tiefstes Beileid. Eure Sabine & Gerhard.

  • April 02, 2020
    Betsy Thompson says:
    Deepest sympathy to all of you. May all the memories you hold close to your heart help guide you through your sorrow and let you remember and rejoice the husband, father and grandfather he was to all of you.

  • April 02, 2020
    Betsy Thompson says:
    My deepest sympathies to all of you. May the many heartfelt memories help to guide you through your sorrow and rejoice on the husband, father and grandfather he was to your family.

  • April 02, 2020
    Cheryl and Bill Bester says:
    Ursula, we will always have treasured and shared history. Our story began in California, Travis and San Francisco--your wedding. Years passed and we again connected in Silver Spring when Shari and Ronnie were young. While we were living in Germany we met you in Tauberbischofsheim. Then there was time in Occoquan. Each get-together was a renewal of tender feelings. Ron was a gentle man who lived by the highest standards. What a lovely couple the two of you made. Your friendship is precious. Someday we will all reunite for the big de-briefing in the sky. Ron is soaring on eagle's wings. His spirit is with us always. Sending love to you, Ursula, Shari and Ronnie and Jackson and Alexander. May peace be with you. Cheryl and Bill

  • May 21, 2020
    Demetrius Phillips says:
    I first met Ron in college at Lowell Technological Institute (now UMass, Lowell) where we joined Phi Psi Fraternity. He was always upbeat and ready to support all of our activities. After college, when Ron was stationed at Travis AFB, he bought property thru me at Lake Tahoe and referred several of his fellow officers to me. I shared my reward as top salesman and invited Ron to Tahiti. We had a great time in Tahiti. As the years passed, I didn't have the pleasure of spending time with Ron, but every now and then, we shared messages online and I was happy to see that he had been so successful in the Air Force and in his career after he retired from the Air Force. I was especially happy to hear about his prowess as a competitive soft ball player into his 70's. I will miss Ron as do the rest of our fraternity brothers and of course, his family. My blessings to all whose lives he has touched.