The Rev. Dr. Ronald W. Liechty, 81, Plymouth, passed away at home as a result of complications following a stroke on Wednesday, March 11, with his family at his side.

Born July 13, 1933, in South Bend, Ron was the eldest child of Clarence E. and Verna (Welty) Liechty. He grew up working in his family’s business, the Liechty Hatchery, and being involved in the South Bend Table Tennis Club. He played on the US Tournament circuit from 1947 to 1951, and ultimately won the junior singles national championship. He graduated from Riley High School in 1951 where he had been a six-year member of the marching band. He then graduated from DePauw University with a degree in economics in 1955.

Drafted into the US Navy, Ron witnessed the poverty and human need of post-war Asia as he spent his shore leave visiting missionaries in each Far East port. The experience forever changed the focus of Ron’s life. He returned from his two years of service to enroll in Garrett Evangelical Seminary in Naperville, Ill., and began serving Evangelical United Brethren congregations while a student there. He received his Master of Divinity Degree and was ordained in 1960. After denominational merger, Ron served in the North Conference of the United Methodist Church until he officially retired in 1980. In 1982, after finishing his Doctor of Ministry degree at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Ron formally affiliated with the United Church of Christ, accepting the call from First United Church of Christ in Plymouth in January 1983. He retired from that pulpit in 1998, but continued to do interim ministry for the next fourteen years, serving five area congregations. Plymouth’s UCC congregation awarded him the honorary title of Pastor Emeritus in 2002.

Ron’s passion throughout his ministry was local church mission and ecumenism. As a pastor he emphasized reaching out to the community and working cooperatively to demonstrate God’s love in practical ways, working to solve community problems and to meet human needs. He was co-founder of the Adams Street Ministries that continues cooperative programming among five local churches. His favorite phrase was, “God doesn’t call us to be religious. God calls us to be faithful.” Ron was the consummate “trouble shooter” and was sought after for his calm and deliberate approach to running meetings and chairing boards in both religious and secular contexts. Ron’s passion for making a difference kept him active and involved in his adopted Plymouth community until his life-altering stroke on December 1, 2013.

Ron was also beloved by his family for his sound advice and stoic support in every life situation. He leaves behind his wife of 33 years: Anna (Bach) Liechty; eldest son: Brian (Becky) Liechty, Plymouth; daughter: Susan Lynn (Larry) Peterson, Tucson; foster-daughter: Debbie (Damon) Bush, Plymouth; stepson: Bryan Crable (Billie Murray), Ardmore, Pa.: and stepdaughter: Audrey Lorraine (Dean Anthony), Fishers. Together the family circle includes twelve grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren with another great-grandson due in June.

Ron is also survived by his brother: Richard (Kay) Liechty; and his sisters: Evangeline (David) Gleason, South Bend; Carolee (Howard) Ogburn, Davenport, Fla.; and his sister-in-law: Nancye Fowler, Plymouth; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Ron was preceded in death by a daughter: Sheryl Ann Liechty.

Ron’s influence will continue to be felt in the many organizations he helped succeed over the years. He volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club since its inception, where the children called him “Mr. Ping Pong.” He served as president of the Garden Court Board and worked to improve housing for seniors and the developmentally disabled for 22 years, overseeing the construction of 10 facilities and adding 197 housing units for the elderly and disadvantaged. He served on the Board of Directors of the Marshall County Historical Society since 1993, and as its president since 2001, guiding the museum’s award-winning expansion. The Community Resource Center, dedicated in 2012, realized a 26-year dream Ron pursued to assist social service agencies. Plymouth’s Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center presented him with the Community Spirit Award in 2000. The Plymouth Chamber of Commerce recognized him with the Distinguished Citizen Award in 2003 and with the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2007. The Marshall County Community Foundation bestowed a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. Ron learned in January that he was to receive a second Sagamore of the Wabash award from the Governor, Indiana’s highest civilian honor. Ron once said that his only hobby in life was “helping make things happen.” His legacy serves as proof of a life well spent in that pursuit.

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to First United Church of Christ or to other community organizations through which Ron Liechty invested his life, for example, The Community Resource Center or The Marshall County Historical Society Museum. Such contributions may be made through the Marshall County Community Foundation 2701 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.

Friends may call from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday, March 16, in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. Services will be held at First United Church of Christ, 321 North Center Street in Plymouth at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 17. Calling will continue at the church after 10 a.m. until time of services. Rev. AnnMarie Kneebone will preside. Burial will be in the New Oakhill Cemetery, Plymouth.

We are thankful to Ron’s family for sharing his life with us.