TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Ronald Lubitz, born June 16, 1947, in Lewiston, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Aug. 13, at his home in Twentynine Palms, Calif., where he had been living for the last 15 years. He lived in Minnesota with his family until the age of 16, when they moved to Maine and settled in Leeds.

He served as a hospital corpsman in the Navy for 27 years. His tour of duty included Vietnam, NAS Imperial Beach, Providence, R.I., Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Andrews AFP, as well as Operation Desert Storm. He finished his naval career as a commander master chief at Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital aboard MCAGCC Twentynine Palms. During Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star for courageous acts under battle fire.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, of Twentynine Palms; daughter, Staci and husband, Mike Perkins, of Cherry Point, N.C., along with granddaughter Payton Perkins; and one son, Bill Lubitz of Las Vegas, Nev. He is also survived by three sisters, Sherilyn Jordan and husband, David, of Leeds, Maine, Virginia Monica and husband, Frank, of Buckfield, Maine, and Kathleen Despres and fianc, David Morin, of Auburn, Maine.

“Uncle Ron” will also be sadly missed by his nieces and nephews from Maine, David Jordan and wife Jodi, Amanda Wagner and daughters, Celeste and Charity, and Matthew and Brian Despres; as well as many cousins, one aunt and two uncles.

Even though he lived away, he kept in touch with his Maine family and was very happy to see the Red Sox win the World Series.

He was predeceased by his parents, Virgil and Norma Lubitz; and a brother, William Lubitz.