Ronald “Ron” J. Lauchnor, 83, of Allentown, died peacefully May 15, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was the devoted husband of Ruth A. (Hansen) Lauchnor, with whom he recently celebrated 59 years of marriage. He was born in Palmerton, a son of the late Alton W. and Doris M. (Hughes) Lauchnor.

He graduated in 1959 from Emmaus High School and in 1963 from Kutztown University where he received a degree in secondary education – biology/science. His passion for both teaching and basketball was born on and off the court. He was an all-conference forward at Kutztown University and was just the second-ever player to reach 1,000 points in his career, finishing with 1,142 points. He was a two-year captain and named to All-PSAC honors and named one of the top male athletes of the 1960s in 2000 during the school’s Athletes of the Century celebration.

He took his love of sports and teaching and began his successful coaching career at Muhlenberg College as a head soccer and golf coach and as an assistant basketball coach. He was inducted into both the Muhlenberg College and Kutztown University Sports Hall of Fames.

He is credited with founding the East Penn Youth Association Soccer League. He owned and operated Lauchnor’s Gravely Tractor Agency for 40 years and a successful commercial lawn and snow removal service which employed many of the young people in the community. One of his greatest accomplishments was to achieve Top Gravely Dealer of the Year.

He was an avid golfer and a member of Blue Ridge Country Club. He was a member of Bethany United Methodist Church. Most of all he cherished spending time with his family and always having an open house to welcome friends. He was a loving husband, father, Pop-pop and great Pop-pop to his family.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by four daughters, Jennifer S. Brown and her husband, Christopher, of Salisbury Township, Cheryl Lyn LaBar and her companion, Tom Nosal, of Allentown, Michele L. Reber and her husband, Doug of Mechanicsburg, Debbi A. Lamb and her husband, Tim of Newport News, Va.; 10 grandchildren, Tyler Brown and his wife, Tiffani, Derek Brown, Austin and Braedon LaBar, Marissa and Jacob Reber, Woody, Timmy and McKinley Lamb; great-grandson, Ryler Brown; sister, Bonnie West and her husband, Jim, of Bethlehem; brother, Rick, of Las Vegas, Nev.

A celebration of his life will be held 11 a.m. June 14 at the Stephens Funeral Home, Inc., 274 North Krocks Road, Allentown. Visitation hours are 9:30-11 a.m. before the service in the funeral home. Visit www.stephensfuneral.com.

Contributions may be made to Lehigh Valley Hospice, 1627 W. Chew St., Fourth Floor, Allentown, 18102 or Wounded Warrior Project.