David Ronald Oliver

David Ronald Oliver, affectionately known as “Ronnie” and “Paw Paw” to his family and grandchildren, passed away peacefully on October 1, 2024, in Rockmart, GA. Born on June 21, 1942, in Atlanta, GA, Ronnie lived a life full of love, dedication, and joy. Ronnie is survived by his daughters, Erinn (Elijah) Williams of Dallas, GA, and Emily (Adam) Tingen of Winston Salem, NC; his beloved grandchildren, Reed, Nash, and Dessa Williams, and Caleb and Riley Tingen. He was preceded in death by his cherished wife of 45 years, Brenda Oliver; his parents, Louise and David Oliver; and his brothers, James and Thomas Oliver. Raised in Atlanta’s Grove Park neighborhood, Ronnie graduated from West Fulton High School in 1960. You can see him proudly wearing his letterman jacket in his obituary photo. He worked as a Shipping Manager for Southeastern Laundry Equipment for 23 years, dedicating his life to taking care of others and especially his family. An avid sports fan, Ronnie had a love-hate relationship with the Atlanta Braves and was known for his competitive spirit. He often bet against his favorites if it meant winning. He was a talented multi-sport athlete in his younger days and remained competitive throughout his life. He would want you to know that he held first place in his football pool at the time of his passing. Ronnie never missed his daughters’ or grandchildren’s events and was often found on the sidelines at little league games. He played a mean game of Scrabble and instilled a love of the game in his children. He even kept a notebook with all their Scrabble scores through the years. Ronnie also took great pride in organizing the family’s highly competitive annual Easter egg hunt, complete with prizes for the winners. Ronnie frequently complained he hadn't had anything to eat, though we all knew otherwise and would feed him again. He just loved a home cooked meal, especially spaghetti, paired with a good ballgame on TV. He was known for his meticulous gift-giving and put great thought into what he selected for each person. Ronnie was deeply intelligent, with a passion for history and a wealth of knowledge. Predictable in the best ways, he was a worrywart who wanted the best for everyone. He loved books and the newspaper every morning like clockwork. He was cautious and a tad cynical, with a great sense of humor and a love for teasing people. He was a mama's boy that never met a plaid shirt he didn't like. Ronnie’s legacy of love, dedication, and humor will live on in the hearts of his family and friends. He will be deeply missed. A celebration of Ronnie's life will be held Saturday, October 12th, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Mt. Harmony Baptist Church located at 561 Veterans Memorial Hwy SE, Mableton, GA 30126. Please come as you are.