Ronald Taylor York

Ronald T. York, of Altamonte Springs, FL, a disabled and decorated veteran of two wars and two American armed services, died Sunday, October 26th at the VA Community Living Center in Lake Nona after a year long battle with colon cancer. He was retired as Director of Community Operations of the Florida Manufactured Housing Association based in Tallahassee, FL. A native of Saugus, MA, with a degree in English from the University of Massachusetts and a Master’s in Journalism from Boston University, he came to Florida in 1954 and for 23 years was a writer and editor at The Miami Herald newspaper. Later he was editor of Mobile Home and Trailer News, a weekly newspaper about Florida’s mobile home and manufactured home industries. He joined the staff of Florida Manufactured Housing Association in 1983 and retired in 2005. A Navy veteran of World War II, he enlisted in 1944 at age 17 and rose to Petty Officer Third Class on a destroyer escort in the Pacific theater. He also was an Army veteran of two campaigns of the Korean War, commanding a platoon of tanks in the 5th Regimental Combat Team in Korea from 1952-1953. His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in ground operations against an armed enemy; the Combat Infantry Badge; American Theater Medal; World War II Victory Ribbon; Asiatic/Pacific Theater Ribbon; Korean War Service Ribbon with two campaign stars; United Nations Service Ribbon; National Defense Service Ribbon, and Army Reserve Service Ribbon for 11 years as a reserve officer. He was a communicant of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, and was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Bertha York; his wife, June Spencer York; his brothers Charles Richard York and Thomas S. York Jr.; and his sister Jean York Fyfe. Survivors include his son Gerard York of Tallahassee, daughter, Maureen Shackelford (Duane) of Casselberry; sister Joan Barclay of St. Petersburg, FL.; and his five grandsons whom he loved dearly ~ James Krepps, Justin York, Jacob, John and Jesse Shackelford, all of Seminole County. A wake will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, October 30th at DeGusipe Funeral Home in Maitland, FL and a Mass of the Resurrection at St. Mary Magdalen in Altamonte Springs on Friday, October 31st at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment at All Faiths Cemetery.

Ronald Taylor York

September 18, 1926 - October 26, 2014