Ron Wilson knows the meaning of service

By BILL DOSS
Guest Columnist

Ron Wilson, a name familiar to most everyone here in Noblesville, was recognized Oct. 27, 2025, Navy Day, for his life of service to his God, country, family, and community for the past 60 years.

Our Noblesville Mayor, Chris Jensen, honored Mr. Wilson with a proclamation stating that day, October 27, 2025, is Ron Wilson Day. Then our Hamilton County Commissioners, Steve Dillinger, Christine Altman and Mark Heirbrandt, honored Mr. Wilson with the highest award in Hamilton County, the Rampart Award, for his service to our Hamilton County Military Veteran community.

Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs Director Jake Adams was also on hand to congratulate Ron Wilson for his continuous service to our Hoosier Veterans.

Ron grew up right here in Noblesville, graduated from Noblesville High School in 1964, and served in the Navy as an engineman from 1965 to 1971 where upon his return to civilian life he started fulfilling his promise to God, to serve, honor, and remember his brothers and sisters who served and did not make it home.

For the past 54 years, he has worn and continues to wear many hats in our community.

First, he is a husband of 57 years to his beautiful wife Sharon, father of three wonderful daughters and his son, grandfather of seven awesome granddaughters, a proud Navy veteran, community leader, Noblesville Alumnus, advocate for our military veteran community, and a friend.

Ron never meets a stranger and is always willing to help anyone who needs it.

When Ron returned home in 1971, he started that promise to “pay if forward” to honor all those who did not come home. His first community “project” was as a Noblesville Jaycee. His goal was to add a plaque to the existing County War Memorial on the courthouse square. This was to honor his 17 “brothers” and friends who didn’t make it home as he had. He also led the effort to add the names of our Persian Gulf heroes to the same memorial to honor their sacrifice as well.

Ron substitute taught for 25 years at the high school, starting out in the history department, but he filled in wherever and whenever he was needed. In fact, Mayor Jensen was one of Mr. Wilson’s students. Ron believes we must teach our kids when they are young just how lucky they are to be living here in the USA.

Ron was involved with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) from 1976 to 2023. He has served as a Cub Pack leader for Pack 100 from 1976 to 1990, Assistant Pack leader for Pack 105 from 1980 to 1990, Scout Master for Troop 540 from 1990 to 2005, Riverview Health Explorer Post Advisor from 1992 to 2023 and received the CACBSA Silver Beaver Award in 1985.

He is a member and past Post Commander of the American Legion Post 45, he also belongs to the Ralph Lehr VFW Post 6246, and multiple military Honor and Rifle Squads. He is a life member of AM Vets Post 12 and DAV Post 90. He is also active with the Noblesville Masonic Lodge #57, the Noblesville Kiwanis Sunrisers, and the Noblesville Lions Club.

Every Memorial Day since 1985, Ron can be found standing at Riverside Cemetery reading the names of the veterans buried in that cemetery. Ron took over the responsibility of reading the names from Joe Burgess. When asked why he continues the tradition, he once told someone he had read a quote by Henry Morgan that stuck with him: “We die twice. The first death is when we take our last breath. The second and final death is the last time someone says our name.”

In 2002, Ron founded the Hamilton County Veterans Corporation to better advocate for our military veteran community. Their motto – “Veterans Serving Veterans” – is not just a motto but Ron’s passion. When the group of 15 started back in 2002 its goal was to bring the Vietnam Traveling Wall – The Wall That Heals – to Noblesville. He knew a lot of our local “brothers and sisters” couldn’t travel to Washington, D.C., to see their memorial, so he rallied volunteers and raised the $8,000 in funds needed to bring “The Wall” here initially in 2004 and again in 2007. Since then, he has continued to be the president of the organization.

Since its founding, the Hamilton County Veterans Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has continued to support both active duty servicemembers as well as veterans. The organization creates care packages for our deployed members, wheelchair ramps, and medical supplies like wheelchairs, canes, lift chairs. They have donated coats, hats, gloves, underwear, T-shirts, socks, and even bicycles to veterans in the community. They have hosted annual community resource fairs that bring 100 services and resources to the community under one roof so they may live a more fulfilled life here in Hamilton County.

On Nov. 11, 2009, he became a founding member of the Hamilton County Navy Club USA Ship 29. Since its founding, he has served as Ship Commander, State Squadron Commander, and is now a Past National Commander of the Navy Club USA. As both the Indiana Squadron and National Commander, he helped raise money to fund Fisher Houses around the country. The Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay for free of charge while a loved one is in the hospital.

Ron also served on the committee for the Col. Harvey Weir Cook Memorial Project at the Indianapolis Airport. Col. Cook served in World War I and was considered a flying ace earning the Distinguished Service Cross. On April 2, 2015, a seven-foot likeness statue and two information plaques were installed at the Indianapolis Airport to commemorate Col. Cook who was instrumental in establishing the airport that would eventually become the Indianapolis International Airport.

In 2021, the Hamilton County Veterans Corp., with financial assistance from our county commissioners, were able repair and rebuild the Crownland Cemetery War Memorial. The foundation had cracked and several of the stones were leaning. We also raised the funds to add two additional stones to honor even more veterans who had died in service of this country since 1951 when the memorial was first erected in the cemetery.

To this day, through delivering the resources and services at fairs and events, assisting those deployed, those still serving at home and all our veterans and their families, Ron Wilson continues to advocate for our military veteran community, and we want to thank him for his lifelong service to Noblesville and Hamilton County.