OBITUARY: Ronnie Wooden

Charles Ronald “Ronnie” Wooden was born in Lebanon, Tennessee, on May 27, 1943, and went home to be with the Lord on July 19, 2026, at the age of 83. Ronnie is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Joy Wooden; his son, John Paul (Lori) Wooden of Brentwood, TN; the mother of his son, Paula B. Wooden of Orlando, FL; his sister, Sue Joyce Lester of Lebanon, TN; his daughters by marriage, Lyn (Lee) Huston of Shelby, NC, and Jennifer (Bill) Langley of Atlanta, GA; his son-in-law, Kevin Custer of Richmond Hills, GA; his sister-in-law, Jacque (Ray) Kinder of Gainesville, GA; and his grandchildren, Sophia and Addison Wooden, Ann Huston and Ali (Kevin) Aguirre, Will and Lauren Langley, and Jackson and Bodie Custer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Margaret Wooden; his brother, Robert Gordon Wooden; his brother-in-law, Gaylon Lester; and his daughter by marriage, Julie Custer.

Ronnie graduated from Lebanon High School in 1961, where he lettered in basketball. While in high school, he worked nights and weekends at Lebanon Woolen Mills to save for his dream of attending the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and becoming the first in his family to earn a college degree. Through hard work and determination, he achieved that goal, graduating from the University of Tennessee in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. After college, Ronnie answered his country’s call by enlisting in the United States Air Force. He served honorably as a sergeant, earning the National Defense Service Medal and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. His service took him to Vietnam and other distant places, where he explored the world as a young man and developed a lasting love for travel, Asian antiquities, spicy foods, and hot sauce.

After returning from military service, Ronnie eventually moved back to Lebanon and resumed work at Lebanon Woolen Mills. Over more than 20 years, he rose through the company ranks, most recently serving as Vice President of Purchasing. It was there that he met his lifelong partner, Joy. Their relationship grew into a lasting love, and Ronnie and Joy married in Lebanon in November 1992, beginning their life together.

Throughout his career and life, Ronnie was known as a sharply dressed, savvy business executive and a devoted Vols fan, often wearing orange on weekends. He spent many years as a season ticket holder at Neyland Stadium, cheering on the Volunteers with Joy, his son, and many friends. He enjoyed watching nearly any sport, especially those involving his alma mater. After a long tenure at the mill, Ronnie joined Wilson Bank & Trust, where he helped clients with their banking needs. Later, he and Joy became business partners in residential real estate, working together for many years until their retirement in 2015.

Ronnie’s attention to detail and meticulous nature were evident not only in his career but also in his hobbies. He loved woodworking and invested numerous hours to ensure each piece was just right. He also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and could often be found working on one at the dining room table. He took great pride in his lawn, frequently riding his beloved zero-turn mower to keep the yard perfectly manicured. Ronnie was also a devoted supporter of his church. Alongside Joy, he volunteered as a music archivist, spending countless hours organizing choir music. They were both enthusiastic choir supporters and rarely missed a practice or performance.

Known to most as Ronnie, he was cherished as “Papa” by his many grandchildren, who were blessed by his warm hugs, bright smile, playful personality, and gift for storytelling. Ronnie was deeply loved as a child, student, veteran, businessman, sports fan, craftsman, choir member, church member, and, most importantly, as a husband, father, and grandfather. He will be dearly missed.

A Celebration of Ronnie’s life will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m., followed by the service at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 415 W. Main St., Lebanon, TN 37087.

Partlow Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements. 615-444-7007 www.partlowchapel.com

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This obituary was published by Partlow Funeral Chapel – Lebanon.

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