Ronald (Ronnie) Boyd Sartain

Ronald (Ronnie) Boyd Sartain, aged 76, passed away on October 17, 2023, in Gainesville, FL. Ronnie was born in Walker County, Alabama, where the stories of his shenanigans with his brother, sister, and cousins are legendary. Whether the stories are all true, we cannot say. The only thing we know is that he grew up surrounded by the love of family, and family remained incredibly important to him throughout his life. His parents knew the value of a good education, and so Ronnie enrolled at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. He volunteered to serve his country during the Vietnam War, joining the U.S. Marines. His deployment to Vietnam was a harrowing experience, and he bore the scars of both shrapnel and PTSD for the rest of his life. After his service, he returned home to marry his college sweetheart and earn a degree in Physics. Specializing in optics and photonics, he worked at Redstone Arsenal, Martin Marietta, and Army Research Labs. He had a knack for innovative ideas and would often wake up in the early morning to write them out so that he could fall back asleep. Over the years, it troubled him each time he watched news reports of U.S. troops being deployed. He hoped that the new technology created from his optics research and development work would protect our military men and women. Ronnie believed in the promise of our United States democracy. He showed his commitment by volunteering to help local candidates and serving as a poll worker. He felt strongly about the issues, which sometimes led to spirited disagreements with family and friends. Even though we argued, his love of family was paramount. “Family isn’t just the most important thing,” he’d tell his kids. “It’s the only thing”. When a family member needed support in any way, Ronnie would drop the argument - temporarily - and show up to help. “That’s just what family does,” he’d say. Ronnie Sartain is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda Sartain, children Sara Walters and Amy Messegee, and four grandchildren. A Funeral service will be held on Friday, October 20, 2023, 2:00 p.m. at Williams-Thomas Westarea 823 N.W. 143rd Street Newberry, Fl.