Ronald Tewalt

Ronald Tewalt, a devoted father and beloved grandfather, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2025, in Louisville, KY. He was born in 1935 in Finly, Washington to Kathryn and Mansel Tewalt, and moved with his family to Oregon, and later California.

In high school, Ron distinguished himself as an award-winning member of the rifle team and began learning Japanese through a friendship with a native speaker—early signs of the curiosity and discipline that would define his future.

Ron served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, stationed in Okinawa as a communications engineer. His unexpected fluency in Japanese drew the attention of the Office of Naval Intelligence. After his military service, he was recruited into the Central Intelligence Agency.

Ron worked with the CIA for over 25 years as a communications engineer, though most people knew only that he was “with the State Department.” It was while he was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, that, as family lore has it, he first caught sight of Loretta Stetz—his future wife—when he spied her shapely legs from a balcony. They would go on to build a life together full of travel and adventure. Together, they lived around the world—from Germany to Ghana, Thailand, Liberia, and the Philippines, with their stateside home being in the Washington DC area. Along the way, he learned German and Spanish in addition to Japanese.

After retiring from the CIA, Ron continued to work in international communications, installing satellite systems for private companies around the world. Eventually, he and Lori settled in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Ron loved the water and had a lifelong passion for boating and fishing. He owned many boats over the years and often took his family on memorable adventures across rivers and lakes.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, brother Eugine, sister Maxine Little and his beloved wife, Lori, in 2015. He is survived by his three children: Geoff Tewalt (Lesa), Kira Tewalt (Edmund), and Jill Vogel (Dave), seven grandchildren: Nicholas Vogel, Benjamin (Abby) Vogel, Leah Vogel, Ethan Tewalt, Muluken Tewalt, Sophia Tewalt, and Genet Tewalt, and his brother Tommy Tewalt (Cherie).

A visitation will be held on July 19, 2025, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM, followed by a memorial service from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Newcomer Funeral Home in East Louisville, located at 235 Juneau Drive, Louisville, KY 40243.