Ronnie Joe Delph

Ronnie Joe Delph, age 81, of Tipton, entered into Heaven on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at IU Health Tipton Hospital with his loving wife by his side.  Ronnie was born on December 5, 1938 in Tipton, Indiana to Earl and Lula Belle (Hobbs) Delph. 

​Ronnie was a graduate of Tipton High School, class of 1956.  He married Margaret Sallee on May 2, 1975 sharing 44 wonderful years of marriage.  Ronnie worked for Chrysler at the transmission plant for 38 years.  He retired in March of 1998.  After retirement, he taught woodworking classes at Ivy Tech and was a factory/machine repair consultant with his brother Charles.  Ronnie proudly served four years (1957 - 1961) in the United States Navy as a machinist on the ship.

Ronnie was a simple man, known as the quiet one in the family.  He loved his family dearly and always cherished the time he spent with his grandchildren.  Ronnie was a helpful man, lending a hand to anyone that needed it.  He was an avid outdoorsman that enjoyed being in nature and fly fishing.  Ronnie was a craftsman; he made cabinets for many family members and made all of the grandchildren’s baby beds.  He was known as a bit of a perfectionist when it came to his woodworking, redoing even the slightest imperfection that would go unnoticed to others.  One of Ronnie’s favorite past times was golf.  He could often be found out on the greens of the Wildcat Creek Golf Course in Kokomo. 

Those left to carry on Ronnie’s legacy of love is his wife Margaret (Sallee) Delph; daughters Stacey Lynn Parr and Darcie Jo (Matt) York; grandchildren Brayden York, Lilly York, and Eva Parr; and siblings Dixie Jaqua, Steve (Sandy) Delph, and Dan (Sharon) Delph. 

​Ronnie was welcomed into Heaven by his parents Earl and Lula Belle Delph; sisters Virginia Terhune and Wanda Vargo; and brothers Jim and Charles Delph.

​A funeral service celebrating Ronnie’s life will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 4:00pm at Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home, located at 314 N. Main St. in Tipton with Pastor Kim Drake officiating.  Visitation for family and friends will take place prior to the service from 1:00pm – 4:00pm at the funeral home. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ronnie’s honor to Melanie Peoples Scholarship c/o Kokomo High School 2501 S. Berkley Road Kokomo, IN 46902.  His grandson Brayden York founded this scholarship to honor a Kokomo High School teacher that passed away in 2016.

​Please feel free to leave an online condolence or share a special memory of Ronnie with his family on his tribute wall. 

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