Ronald Frontz's Obituary
Command Sergeant Major (CSM) US Army (ret.) Ronald L. Frontz died peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on 19 January 2020 in Tacoma, Washington at the age of 78. Ronald L. Frontz was born on 21 September 1941 in Wooster, Ohio. He was a member of the Wooster High School Class of 1959 and often attended its class reunions. Joining the United States Army in December 1960,he found his calling which led to thirty years of honorable service highlighted by Basic Training at Fort Knox, Advanced Training at Fort Benning, first overseas assignment to Germany where he was part of second unit to enter Berlin in 1961 in response to the Berlin Wall, two combat assignments to Vietnam where he won the Bronze Star, another assignment to Germany where he was Sergeant Major for the first Armor Unit to get the M1A1 Tanks in Europe, and because he was always about the soldier, he was especially proud of his two instructor assignments at the 5th Army NCO Academy and Sergeant Major Academy. He retired as a Battalion CSM for the 23rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Lewis in 1990. Frontz' medals and awards include Meritorious Service Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC)) , Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (10th Award), Army of Occupation Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Legion of Merit, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, Army Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (3), Overseas Service Bars (4), Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal Unit Citation, Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (4), and Expert Qualification Badge (M-16) Ronald Frontz, after his military service, began a second career as a healer. He went back to school and obtained his Licenced Practical Nurse (L.P.N) degree where he first served as a hospice nurse then joined Western State Mental Hospital for twelve years before he retired for final time in 2003. His work inspired his youngest daughter to become a nurse as well.
Ronald L. Frontz married Teresa in 1972, after courting her from overseas and upon marriage, treated Gerald, Robert and Doris as his children from the start with Patricia arriving in 1975. A family man, he loved being a grandfather and doted on his grandchildren Mitchel, Amber, Makenzie ,Teal, Justin, Juliana, Champ, Sarah, Sage, Royal and great-grandchildren Jeffrey and Grayson. With the family scattered across the nation from San Diego to Tacoma to Everett to Washington D.C., it was a point of pride, he always made sure the family stayed together. A man of action, up to July 2019, he was still driving his motor home to Grayland State Park for camping, travel throughout the United States and overseas, upgrading the house, and buying his wife unexpected gifts. Ronald L. Frontz is survived by his wife Teresa Frontz of forty seven years; daughters Doris Dutra, Patricia Howes and Susan Caroll; sons, Robert Reynolds and Gerald Reynolds; ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren; brothers and sisters Kenneth Dean Frontz, Mary Elizabeth Hill, Herman Dale Frontz, Vivian Ruth Johnson, Edna Elaine Wilkerson, and Eugene Allen Frontz. He was preceded in death by his Parents Carl and Ruth Frontz,his brother Carl Larry Frontz, and his son Todd Richardson.
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