Ronald E.A. Waller

Ronald Edward Arthur Waller, 78, of Storrs, Connecticut, USA, formerly of Durban, South Africa, loving husband of 54 years of Sylvia (Boardman) Waller, died Monday, January 24, 2011 at Hartford Hospital after a long illness. Ron was born in Johannesburg, South Africa November 15, 1932, son of the late Herbert T. Waller and Eileen (Jones) Waller. Ron was in the United States vacationing when he met Sylvia in 1953 while attending an International Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses at Yankee Stadium. They corresponded for three years and married in Hartford Vermont September 7, 1956. After surviving a hurricane at sea on their voyage back to South Africa, Ron introduced Sylvia to life in Africa, especially his love of the land, of nature and wildlife. They later settled in Durban, South Africa where Ron worked doing conceptual drawing and interior design for Cole and Clarke for many years. After their children moved to the United States, and grandchildren arrived, Ron and Sylvia in 1991 decided to join them in Connecticut. Ron was a member of the Columbia Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, having been baptized in South Africa in 1952. He is survived by his daughter Colleen Warner and her husband Graham of Manchester, Connecticut, his son David Waller and his wife Christine of Columbia, Connecticut, five grandchildren, Timothy Cooper of Los Angeles, California, Jonathan Warner and his wife Amanda of Manchester, Connecticut, David Warner and his wife Janelle of Cleona, Pennsylvania, Brittany Waller of China, Austin Waller of Willimantic, Connecticut, and a great grandson Owen Warner. He is also survived by his sister Natalie Lewis and her husband Peter of Durban, South Africa, his half brother and sisters Graham Waller, Sheila Richards and Margaret Van Den Berg also of South Africa. He was predeceased by his half brother Bruce Waller. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 29th, at 1:00P.M. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 96 Quarry Street, Willimantic, Connecticut. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Worldwide Work, c/o Watchtower, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York, 11201. The family would like to thank the staff at Hartford Hospital for their display of compassion and the care toward Ronald and the family while hospitalized as well as the staff of Aurora Senior Living of East Hartford who took care of him for the past seven years, especially Rufus Roach of whom Ron was particularly fond. For online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .