Kuhr, Ronald

Other Events:

• 1940 Census: 1940, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• Obituary: 28 Oct 2012; The News & Observer

Notes:

1940 Census:
John Kuhr53
Rose Kuhr40
Rose Mc Cann17
Bonita Kuhr1
Ronald Kuhr3/12
Amelia Forster81

Obituary:
Ronald John Kuhr, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother died peacefully at Wake County Hospice Home with his wife at his side on October 21, 2012 at the age of 72. He was born December 29,1939 in Appleton, WI, to John and Rose Forester Kuhr. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Peter, his parents, and a sister, Rose Mary Welhouse. Ron was a proud graduate of Appleton High School where he was named Elks Scholar, the first of many awards he would receive throughout his career. He attended Lawrence University and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in Agricultural Chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley. There he was awarded a two-year NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship to study in England. In 1968 he accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Entomology at Cornell University's Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY. He and his family moved to Ithaca, NY in 1977 when he was named Associate Director of Research in the College of Agriculture. During his 12 years at Cornell, Ron conducted research toward producing safer and more effective insecticide chemicals, becoming an international authority on the carbamate group of compounds. In 1980, the family moved to Raleigh, NC where Ron became head of the Department of Entomology at NC State University and, later, Associate Dean and Director of Research in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Recently, he wrote, "On January 1, 1992, after 11 years of research and 15 years of administration, I finally decided to do the thing I wanted to do when I started college, i.e. teach." And teach he did. His undergraduate course, "Insects and People," became one of the students' favorite courses on campus. Outside the formal classroom, he spoke to elementary schools, neighborhood children, his grandchildren - anyone who would listen! He was determined to teach people that "bugs are our friends." Ron loved his life and never regretted a single career decision he made. He adored his family who survive him: devoted wife Mary of Raleigh; son Christopher (Mary Jo) and grandchildren Jackson and Nicholas of Manhattan Beach, CA; daughter Katharine Heath, Jacksonville, FL; sister Bonnie Kuhr, Raleigh; and special son Matthew of Raleigh. Ron had the sunniest disposition, the quickest laugh, and the brightest smile. Nothing could rival his passions for family, fishing and playing poker with his friends of 30 years, spending time at Lake Gaston, riding his motorcycle, and eating his two favorite foods, popcorn and cherry pie. He enjoyed all of the above right up to the end but somehow let the opportunity to get a tattoo of a tiger beetle get past him.
Mitchell Funeral Home is in charge of cremation arrangements. There will be no calling hours. A celebration of Ron's life will be held at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum on the NC State Campus on Saturday, November 10 at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Creative Living (an Autism Society of NC program) 6300 Chapel Hill Road, Raleigh, NC 27607
Published in The News & Observer on October 28, 2012