Ronald Wayne Caudill

The Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory of Blairsville announces a Celebration of Life Service for CWO4 Ronald Wayne Caudill, USN(Ret.)

Chief Warrant Officer Ronald W. Caudill, U.S. Navy (retired), wrote the below in September of 2019 for a Navy publication that asked veterans to share their experience and advice to benefit young sailors. We think his own words best sum up his life and his legacy:

"I learned through my 26 years of military service to value my family. I enlisted in the Navy in 1964 and served on 11 ships. In the first three years of my Navy service, I was single and wasn't really sure about making it a career. After my third year was over, I returned from Vietnam and met my soul mate, Sue, on my 24th birthday (February 8, 1967). Sue made all the difference in my life and encouraged me to make the Navy my profession. She gave up a very promising career in Atlanta to start our married life in the Navy town of San Diego, California. Throughout my time in the Navy, Sue inspired and encouraged me in my work and helped me attain the ranks of Chief Petty Officer and Chief Warrant Officer. More importantly, she gave me two wonderful boys who we raised together to become men of character. Our oldest son, Shannon, served 25 years in the Air Force with two tours in Iraq, retired as a Colonel, and is now working on his doctoral degree. Our youngest son, Matt, is a licensed social worker and therapist who does amazing work helping veterans overcome their mental health challenges at the Veteran's Administration hospital in Atlanta. Our boys and their wonderful wives (Corinna and Carissa) have given us four grandchildren whom we adore. Military service helps clarify what is important in life: your family and the love they give you. My advice to shipmates serving today is to write or e-mail your loved ones often, call when you can and be very involved with your family when ashore. To my former shipmates, thank you for your friendship, service and camaraderie. Fair winds and following seas to all."

As a family, we are filled with pride, joy and love as we thank our Lord for the blessing of this wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and Vietnam veteran. Thank you for being with us to celebrate the life of this loving and kind man. We wish Ronnie fair winds and following seas as this old sailor joins his loved ones and our Savior in the great beyond.

He will be warmly remembered by all who knew him, but especially missed by his family: loving wife of 52 years, Sue Rich Caudill; and sons & daughters-in-law, Shannon & Corinna Caudill and Matthew & Carissa Caudill. Also, sharing in his legacy are 4 grandchildren, Thomas Caudill, Nicholis Caudill, William Caudill, and Gavin Zindle. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dean & Leona Caudill; and 3 brothers, Lowell, Vernis, and Clifford.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Jaunuary 17, 2020 from the Chapel of Cochran Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery with military honors presented by the United States Navy and the North Georgia Honor Guard. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the service begins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project online at woundedwarriorproject.org or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516.

Arrangements entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory of Blairsville.