Ronald H. Schlauch

Ronald Howard Schlauch of Woodstock, Maryland, and former long-time resident of Allview Estates in Columbia, Maryland, passed away on Sunday August 15, 2021 at age 84.  Ron was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania to the late Howard Schlauch and the late Ardella Schlauch (Stoneburner).  He is survived by his wife Joan Schlauch (Gajanec); his son Kurt Schlauch, daughter-in-law Kimberly Schlauch (Hahn), and their children Karissa and Ryan Schlauch, all of Marriottsville, Maryland; and his brother Douglas Schlauch of Baltimore, Maryland, his wife Helen Schlauch, and their children Joel and Jason Schlauch.  Ron was predeceased by his sister Joan Hockman (Schlauch) of Whitehall, Pennsylvania and her husband Russel Hockman.  Ron is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.

Ron and Joan were married on August 13, 1966 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany and moved to Columbia, Maryland in 1968.  Ron served three years in the U.S. Army, earning the Good Conduct Medal.  He attended Moravian College in Pennsylvania, the U.S. Army Language School in Monterey, California, and graduated from the U.S. Army Russian Institute in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.  He also took courses at Middlebury College in Vermont.  Like many other new arrivals to the Columbia area at that time, Ron was hired by the National Security Agency in Fort Meade.  He was a true “Cold War Warrior,” working at NSA for over 39 years during a time of great uncertainty.  The dismantling of the Berlin Wall serves as a lasting testament to the efforts of Ron and his contemporaries.

Those who knew Ron personally will remember him as a friendly, outgoing guy who always had a smile and warm greeting to offer.  He enjoyed many activities with his family, his close-knit group of neighbors in Allview Estates, and his friends, including traveling, grilling, watching sporting events, and maintaining his small fleet of Volvos.  Ron served his community as a volunteer in several capacities, including as an officer of both the Allview-Arrowhead Civic Association and the Atholton Youth Recreation Association.  He managed or helped coach several AYRA baseball teams on which Kurt played, and watched many more AYRA and Oakland Mills High School baseball games cheering from the stands. 

Ron had a lifelong passion for music, was a devoted listener of classical compositions, and enthusiastically sang in the choir at Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church, where Ron and Joan have worshipped for over 50 years and where Kurt was baptized.  Ron served in various capacities at CMPC, including liturgist, deacon and multiple terms as ruling elder.

While all who knew Ron are saddened at his loss from our midst, we rejoice that he is now in the loving care of our Heavenly Father and we trust in the promise spoken clearly by Jesus when He said “'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”  (John 11:25-26).

Family and friends are invited to gather on Thursday, October 7 at Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church, 10600 Shaker Drive, Columbia, MD 21046, for a visitation at 10:00 AM, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 AM. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church.

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