Ronald Lee Wiley

Ronald L. Wiley (86), of Oxford, passed away (04/22/2024) at The Knolls of Oxford.

Ron was born October 4, 1937 at Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, OH during the 1937 flood.  His parents were Raymond K. and Emma Matilene (Cartwright) Wiley, his older brother Roger (survives, living in Georgia.)

At less than one year of age the family moved to Darrtown, OH, where he put down what would become roots that flourished in the village for many years. His boyhood was nurtured by several Darrtown natives, the most important mentor being Dale Bufler.  Dale led a group of Darrtown boys in many learning experiences and projects, including scrap and paper drives during WWII, raising money to buy uniforms for baseball and basketball teams that toured Butler County, playing teams from other towns and rural schools.  He took them to Clark’s Sporting Goods store in Hamilton, where they stretched their money and bought the least expensive basketball shirts available.  They were purple; thus, the team came up with the mascot name, the Darrtown Purple Skunks.

He attended Collinsville through the sixth grade, then Jr. High and Sr. High School at Seven Mile HS (later becoming Edgewood), graduating in 1955.

He then attended Miami University, graduating in 1959 with a B.S. in Ed. Degree, majoring in Comprehensive Science.  He was a member of Kappa Phi Kappa, men’s Education Fraternity, and was named their Outstanding Senior Man in 1959. He taught Biology at Talawanda HS for three years. On June 18, 1961 he married Linda Hartley of Piqua, OH.  She passed away on October 6, 1980. Their son Matthew Eric was born, November 28, 1965. He lives in Concho Valley, Arizona.

On August 15, 1981 he married Kathryn Young, of a longstanding Oxford family of business owners and Miami graduates. They enjoyed travels to historic American sites, European trips and yearly vacations at a cabin in Michigan, and winters at a condo in Fountain Hills, Arizona. And much pleasure was often enjoyed in short trips from home, with the current pet dog, taking in the seasonal beauty of the countryside.

Ron earned a Ph. D. in Physiology & Biophysics at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in 1966. Following a one-year Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the VA Hospital in West Allis, WI and teaching at Marquette Medical School, he returned to Miami University on the faculty in the Department of Zoology (now Biology).  His four-year plan to stay at Miami stretched into 37 years, teaching General Physiology and Cardiopulmonary Physiology. Hundreds of his students became physicians, dentists, physical therapists and physiology researchers throughout the world.  He published scientific articles on the control of breathing and the control of blood pressure.  A serendipitous discovery led to developing a handgrip device to control blood pressure and other devices for effective rehabilitation and strengthening of muscle groups, with a business partner from Columbus, OH.

An avid sports fan and supporter, he helped recruit athletes for nearly every sport at Miami, served on the Athletic Advisory Board and the Hall of Fame/Cradle of Coaches Committee.

He served on many university and community boards and committees.  His most satisfying volunteer effort was the result of his Darrtown roots stimulated by his friend from second grade, Fred Lindley’s phone call that Darrtown would become 200 years old in 2014.  With Fred and other deeply caring Darrtown natives a committee planned and produced the Darrtown Bicentennial in July, 2014, drawing more than three thousand attendees, and initiating projects in the Memorial Park to place trees, shrubs, a Veterans memorial monument and walkways with memorial pavers. After the Bicentennial, it became the Darrtown Reunion Committee to plan and hold a reunion celebration, the Darrtown Fall Festival, in the village each fall.

He had a lifelong passion for gardening, focusing on trees, shrubs and perennials of the Midwest, but couldn’t resist including in his garden a few interesting specimens from other parts of the U.S and even foreign countries as they complemented the native plants. He was most pleased when visitors, especially young children came to tour the garden, and when plants matured and he could divide them and share plants with others.  He enjoyed all the birds, especially hummingbirds, and the butterflies and bees attracted to the garden. He especially liked watching the hummingbird moths at the flowers.  He tolerated the squirrels, but loathed the foraging deer, the raccoon and the moles, making the battle to defend the garden against them a passion.

Another passion was cooking.  He learned very early on as a boy from his mother.  He enjoyed trying new recipes, then modifying them to add his personal touch. He enjoyed sharing his cooking with others, either entertaining in their home, tailgating, or providing soups for someone recovering from an illness.

Ron is survived by his wife, Kathryn Young Wiley of Oxford; his son Matthew Eric, granddaughter Linda Lea, and grandson Tyler Matthew all of Concho Valley, Arizona.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. 

The family has suggested memorial donations in Ron’s name to the Darrtown Reunion Committee for upkeep of the Memorial Park’s trees, shrubs and walkway pavers or The Knolls of Oxford Future Care Fund.

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