Obituary of Ronald L. Tuttle Sr.

NATURAL DAM – Ronald L. Tuttle, Sr., age 85, of Natural Dam, passed away on April 12, 2025 at his daughter's home under the care of his family and hospice. Calling hours will be held at French Funeral Home in Gouverneur on Monday, April 21, 2025 from 11:00 – 2:00 p.m. with his funeral service following at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Lake Cemetery. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com. Ronald was born on October 27, 1939 in Gouverneur to the late Benjamin W. and Doris M. (Gray) Tuttle. He graduated from Gouverneur Central School in 1957, where he was an excellent wrestler, having been the 1957 Section III-X Champion in the 154 lb. class. He married Joan E. Parker on July 20, 1957 at the Gouverneur United Methodist Church. Joan passed away on May 6, 2021. Ron worked for the St. Lawrence County Highway Department in 1957 and from there worked at Simons Fuel and Supply from 1958 – 1963, J.E. McAllaster's Oil Company from 1963 – 1977, and The Augsbury Corporation from 1977 – 1982. At the closure of Augsbury he opened and ran his own business of T&H Heating and Plumbing from 1982 – 1989. In 1989 he became employed by Fort Drum as a Service Technician and remained there until his retirement in October of 2001. Ron was a member of the Gouverneur Elks Lodge for 42 years. He was an avid, but unlucky hunter, enjoyed fishing, camping, bowling, and making donuts from Joan's recipe. He also enjoyed going to the casino where he also didn't have the luck, but escorted Joan there for her wins. Ron and Joan took many motorcycle trips, spent many good times at Pleasant Lake, and enjoyed trips to Florida. He was always there for his family and made a great wing man on his travels. He is survived by three children, Ronald (Barbara) Tuttle, Jr., Deborah "Debbie" Woods (Judd Reed), and Rusty (Heather) Tuttle, his sister, Sharon Parker, and brothers, Robert and James Tuttle. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Ryan, Marcus, Chad, Cody, Levi, Lauren, Alysa, Michael, Alana, Noah, and Conner, 13 great-grandchildren, Kailyn, Karlie, Oaklynn, Gracen, Skylar, Tatum, Blakely, Boone, Naomi, Lydia, Piper, Rory and Sawyer, and many nieces and nephews. Ron is predeceased by his parents, his wife, Joan, a son, Dale Alan Tuttle, and a brother, Benjamin Tuttle. Donations in memory of Ron may be made to the Gouverneur Breast and Ovarian Cancer Fund, PO Box 64, Gouverneur NY 13642, Ryan's Wish Foundation, PO Box 326, Gouverneur NY 13642, or Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, PO Box 510, Potsdam NY 13676.