Ronnie Hovis

Ron (Ronnie) Hovis was born in 1959 in California and was raised in Indiana. At the age of 19, he joined the United States Army out of a deep patriotic love for his country and served until 1984. After leaving the military, Ronnie moved to California and later Provo Utah but didn’t receive the help he needed to land on his feet. He worked a series of odd jobs and sometimes struggled to find adequate housing.

After many such years, with the help of A Soldier’s Home, Ronnie was able to purchase a home in Provo. Always ready to help when he could Ronnie rented rooms out of his house to others that were struggling, provided free rooms to other soldiers that were looking for housing, and donated generously to help other veterans.

This fall Ronnie took a much-deserved vacation to the Philippines. While there he was violently attacked and murdered by a stranger who intended to rob him.

He was 63 years old when he died.

It took the local authorities several days to make contact with Ronnie’s next of kin. When they did they informed them that if they did not pay $8,000 to have him cremated and flown back home, he would be buried in an unmarked, common grave and they would not receive a death certificate or his belongings.

So we are now humbly asking you, dear friends and family of the late Ronnie Hovis, to consider donating so that we can bring Ronnie back home. So that his remains can be back on the soil he loved with the people that cared for him.

This ordeal has been traumatic and heart-wrenching for the family that has survived him. The authorities can be difficult to communicate with and thus far information about the specifics of the crime has been limited. What we do know is that while there Ronnie did what he does best and he made friends. We have been lucky to be in contact with them and they have helped tremendously.

Ronnie will be missed by all who knew him. His co-workers and friends, his family, and those he helped. If you have a story or memory of Ronnie please share it with us.

Ronnie is survived by his sister Tamra and nieces and nephews.