Ronald Lee Polvi

FAIRHOPE, Ala. - Ronald Lee Polvi, age 85, of Fairhope, Alabama, passed away on Dec. 14, 2023.

He was born March 13, 1938, in Chicago, and raised in Ironwood, Michigan. After graduating from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood, Ron served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1962. He was a crypto operator and deployed to Taiwan.

He met the love of his life, Fay Richards, in high school. They were married for 67 years and raised three children, Christopher, Ronilyn and Tracy.

After the service, Ron held several jobs in transportation, eventually working at the Ford plant in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he retired as an engineer after 20-plus years. Ron and Fay's early retirement years were spent traveling in their RV throughout the U.S. and Canada, spending time with family and friends. In 2005, settled in Fairhope. Retirement life brought out Ron's musical interest, and he enjoyed playing the one-string bucket in a band with his good friends.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Joanne (Polvi) Bastman; and stepfather, Hugo Bastman; and Edward Slicker.

Ronald Polvi is survived by his wife, Fay; son, Christopher (Lori) Polvi; daughters, Ronilyn Polvi (Jasper Burr) and Tracy (Joe) Struzyk; grandchildren, Megan Polvi, Amanda Polvi, Christopher Polvi, Stephanie (Spencer) Lewis, Jacob Struzyk, Martin Struzyk, Alexis Struzyk (Chris Evans) and Hannah Struzyk (Ben Akinde); great-grandchild, Tristian Polvi; brothers, Ray (Debbie) Bastman and Rick Bastman; and sister, Renee (Mike) Palmgren; and many other relatives and friends.

A private military burial will be held at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort. At a later date, the family plans to host a celebration of life in Ron and Fay's hometown of Ironwood.