Ronald Staab

Ronald L. Staab, 86, late of Pittsburgh, late of Pymatuning Lake, passed away on Friday, April 26th, after a lengthy illness. He was born December 8, 1937, to Jerome L. Staab and Edna (Nagel) Staab, in Pittsburgh, PA.

Affectionately known as “Ronnie” to friends and family, in his younger days he frequented The Linden Grove Dance Hall, and graduated from South Hills High School in 1955.

On September 10, 1960, he married Carole Ann Woshner. She survives.

Ronnie opened Staab Plumbing and Heating, which he operated until 2017. Customers dialed the old telephone exchange, Westford 2204, knowing Ronnie stood on integrity and principle. He was old school and did things right the first time.  He took pride in his work and all his Chevy trucks were named “Gunther.”

In 1967, he joined the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union, where he was Business Agent for 30 years, and a member for 57 years.

Ronnie enjoyed discussing manly topics such as heating and cooling operating systems, boilers, construction blueprints, and plumbing and septic systems for residential or large, industrial projects. Oil burners were his favorite product, and some of the furnaces he installed in the 1960’s are still running today.

He helped start the Union Plumbers Apprentice Program in Meadville, PA, where some of the finest steamfitters on the planet studied and learned the trade. He could be seen at the AFL-CIO building on Chestnut Street, as well as the old Villa Restaurant, with Tom, Artie, and V.R. Yoder, Benny Newkirk, and all the rest of the Union boys.

Ronnie also spent 5 ½ years in the Air Force and Army National Reserves, with Honorable Discharge. One of his favorite stories to recount was his “Sergeant for a Day” anecdote. Ask him about it the next time you see him.

He enjoyed helping people, fishing, hunting on his farm in Espyville with his brothers, bee keeping, gardening, and telling jokes and funny stories.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Roseanne and Arlene.

Dickson Funeral Home is in care of cremation arrangements, and as per the family’s wishes, there are no calling hours.

Please keep Ronnie in your loving hearts; his contagious smile, generosity, and all the wisdom of a lifetime are sadly missed by all those who had the honor of knowing him.

Auf Wiedersehen!

….and as Ronnie used to love to say, in the immortal words of Elmer Fudd, “Ba-dip, Ba-dip, Ba-dip, That’s All, Folks!”

Please sign Ronnie’s online guestbook at www.hatheway-tedesco.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Dickson Funeral Home and Crematory, 130 N 2nd St. Conneaut Lake, PA 16316, Rocco R. Tedesco III, Supervisor.