Ronald Giles

RONALD BERNARD GILES, SR., was born February 17, 1936 in Stonega, VA to the late Arnette and Benjamin Simpson Giles III. He fell asleep in death January 29, 2024.

After a thorough search of the scriptures, Ronald dedicated his life to Jehovah God and was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses July 25, 1959. He served for many years as an elder in the North Congregation, Nashville, TN, the Pennington Gap Congregation, VA, the Glasgow Congregation, KY and the Northwest Congregation, Nashville, TN. The ministry was a very important part of his life, and he spent many hours sharing Bible truths with others and has many spiritual sons. He enjoyed working with the Regional Building Committee on Kingdom Hall projects. Ronald, better known as Ron or “Gamps” (affectionately by his grandchildren), was employed by the Tennessee Valley Authority as a lineman and Metropolitan Transit Authority (presently WeGo Public Transit) for many years as a coach operator, retiring in 1998.

Ron attended Central High School in Appalachia, VA. While in high school, Ron was the quarterback for the school’s football team. He graduated from Bland High School, Big Stone Gap, VA in 1955 and entered the United States Armed Forces. He married his high school sweetheart, Earline Lewis; they were married for 68 years and became parents to five lovely children.

In addition to the ministry, Gamps enjoyed gardening, landscaping, dancing and fishing. He loved spending time with his family and friends. Gamps had a good sense of humor and loved playing Bid Whist. He was also known for his generosity and the inability to say “no” to anyone needing help. “And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” – Acts 24:15

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Arnette and Benjamin Simpson Giles III, grandson, Nicholas Giles Johnson, brothers-in-law James Howard Poole, Richard Henry Lewis, James Henry Lewis, Joseph Archie Lewis, and Harry Dwain Lewis; sisters-in-law Helen M. Lewis and Lily Y. Lewis. He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving and devoted wife, Earline L. Giles; his children, A. Guin Johnson (John), Ronald Bernard Giles, Jr. (Yoshina), Nashville, TN, Edmund Richard Giles (Yuvitta), Gabrielle L. Maclin (Philetus), Memphis, TN, and Benjamin Simpson Giles IV (Rhonda), Nashville, TN. His sister Barbara Raye Poole, Big Stone Gap, VA; his sisters-in-law Stella Louise Townsend, Leigh Sharon Brown (John), Gwatholyn Irene Turney (Michael) Mary Lewis, Linda Lewis; his brother-in-law Robert H. Lewis, Jr., Nashville, TN; his grandchildren, Kenneth Johnson (Gigi), Goodlettsville, TN; Stephen Johnson (Bethany),San Mateo, CA and Kelly L. Johnson, Atlanta, GA; Schyler Marie Provencal (Nic) Accra, Ghana and Ronald Bernard Giles III, Nashville, TN; Donovan R. Giles, Hermitage, TN; Christopher Lloyd Maclin, Cordova, TN; Nieces and nephews, Kevin Giles, Timothy Giles, James Poole, Jr., Sean Poole, Big Stone Gap, VA; Derrick Lewis (Tina), Korey Lewis, Laundrea Lewis, Gerald Lewis, Adrienne Lewis, James Lewis, Jr., Andrea Lester (Richard), Jamey Lewis, Jacque Lewis, Timothy Lewis, Stephanie Townsend, Daniel Townsend (Shanara), Monique Johnson, Tiffany Lavender (Maurice), Abigail Nelson, Jessica Nelson, and Travis Lewis, Nashville, TN; Devoted cousins, Thelma Butts and Robert Giles, Akron, OH, Cheryl Ann Giles and Elba Jane Giles, Philadelphia, PA, Brenda Black, Zenia, OH, Judy Elder (Gordon), Dayton, OH, Shelia Giles Washington, Houston, TX. He also leaves six great-grandchildren, a host of other relatives, friends and spiritual brothers and sisters. Special friends Bobby Perkins, Old Hickory, TN and Donzel Crenshaw, Memphis, TN.