In loving memory of Ronald F. Doering: 1945-2022

Ronald F. Doering was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on March 29, 1945. After a year-long battle with cancer, he passed away peacefully at his home in Battle Ground, Washington, on March 28, 2022.

Ronald F. Doering married his wife of nearly 56 years, Laurie Schelb Doering, in June of 1966. They had met while students at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. Immediately upon graduation as a secondary school teacher, he was sworn into the Air Force. He became a first lieutenant after completing his officer training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. During his eight years of service to our country, with multiple states of residence, a year at Osan AB in Korea and the births of their three children, Ron was honorably discharged as a regular Air Force captain. He moved the family to Portage, Michigan, where they resided for the next 30 years. He had dreamed of being a truck driver as a teen and pursued that passion for 13 years, owning his own truck and operating it nationwide. He amazed people all the time with his knowledge of our nation’s highways and byways. He sold the truck in 1988 when he was employed as a truck driver instructor by Eaton Corporation, thus combining his education training and experience as a truck driver. After advancing through several positions at Eaton Corp in Kalamazoo, he was asked to transfer to Washington state as an automated product specialist in the Western Region. He retired from Eaton in 2011 having worked for Eaton for 23 years. During all these years, he continued to pursue his love of the outdoors through running and cycling many miles each week. Ron and Laurie logged numerous miles on their tandem bicycle and rode in tours in many states. They also enjoyed road trips around the US, visiting all 50 states, and cruises to many countries of the world together.

Ron is survived by his wife, Laurie, and children Deborah J. Doering Haney (Phil), Wayland, Michigan, and Robert F Doering (Sarah), Big Rapids, Michigan, and five grandchildren: Paul Jacob Haney (Casey Jo), Madeliene Krystal Haney, Maleah Haney, Emmalyn Sofia Doering and Abby Rose Doering. He was preceded in death by their daughter Barbara J. Doering Baker in 2013 and by his parents, Harold F. and Mary V. Hart Doering. His only sister, Carol Ann Doering Shankwiler, preceded him in death on March 28, 1973, as well as his beloved brother-in-law Richard Shankwiler in July of 1994. Ron remained close to his surviving nieces, Lynn Shankwiler MacDermott (Gordon) of San Rafael, California, and Karen Vanderveer Logue (Tom), of Portland, Oregon, and nephews Paul Richard Shankwiler (Heidi), of Walnut Creek, California, and their son, Kyle Shankwiler, and David Shankwiler (Ruth) of Pasadena, California, and their children Amanda and Carolyn Shankwiler. Ron was also a loved uncle to all of Laurie’s many nieces and nephews, grands and great-grands in Michigan and beyond.

A celebration of Ron’s life will be at Salmon Creek United Methodist Church, Vancouver, Washington, on May 14, 2022, at 2 pm We invite any of Ron’s friends to be in attendance. Memorials may be given to Salmon Creek United Methodist Church, 12217 NE Highway 99, Vancouver, Washington, 98686, or to Community Home Health and Hospice, 3102 NE 134th St., Vancouver, Washington, 98686.