Ronald L. Thacker

IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED BY INNUENDO, LOW HUMOR, PLAY ON WORDS, KEEP ON SCROLLING.

If you knew Ronnie Thacker, you would not be surprised that this was from his last post on social media. A word magician, he found humor sometimes where it normally wouldn’t be found. During his recent long, but too short, battle with cancer, this is what kept him going some days. Maybe it came from his many years teaching and working technically in theater. One of his favorite sayings was “There is more drama backstage than there is on.”

Born January 27, 1968 Ronnie lost his courageous battle with both rheumatoid arthritis and cancer at his home on the morning of September 15, 2024. Left behind to cherish his memory and miss his innuendos and humor, are his parents Cecil and Jean Thacker, his brothers Tommy Thacker (Anderia) of Piney River and Terry Thacker (Valerie) of Huntingtown, Maryland, his nieces and nephews Amanda (Bill) Mikolay, Samantha (Clayton) Forren, Brooke, Blake, Brannon, and TC Thacker, his many loving aunts and uncles, his life-long friends he called cousins, as well as numerous other friends and past students and work associates --- who all were never surprised at what he might say. Last, but not least, his companions Kitty Boo Boo and Heidi.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Wade and Louise Thacker, and his maternal grandmother, Ola Baker Crews.

While living in Phoenix, Arizona, Ronnie worked as a Journeyman at IATSE Local 336 and as a Technical Director at the Arizona Opera and at the Ballet Arizona. He was a Clinical Assistant Professor at Arizona State University as well as University Faculty at SOTF Scene Shop. Prior to that, he served as Assistant Technical Director at The Phoenix Theater Company. While still in Virginia he was a Staff Technical Director at Virginia Commonwealth University and an Assistant Technical Director/Scene Shop Supervisor at the University of Virginia. He started his long and successful career as an Assistant Technical Director / Master Carpenter at Theatre IV in Richmond, Virginia. All of this was made possible by obtaining his degree in Technical Theater from Virginia Commonwealth University and his Master’s in Production & Design – Technical Direction from the California Institute of Arts.

A funeral service will be held 3 p.m. Thursday, September 19, 2024, at Madison Heights Baptist Church by Pastor Josh Beeler and Rev. Campbell. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church, and at other times at his parents’ and brother’s home in Piney River, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to the Grief Committee of Madison Heights Baptist Church or Neighbors Helping Neighbors of Amherst County.