Superintendent Ronald Dee Harbaugh
(1938-2025)
Ron was born on October 19, 1938 in Sheridan, Indiana to Everett and Lorna (Hawkins) Harbaugh. He attended Rushville High School in Rushville, Indiana. There he took college preparatory courses, played on the football and track teams, and participated in the band, choir, and Language Club. He also attained the rank of First Class Scout in Troop 27 of the Boy Scouts of America and graduated in 1956.
After high school, on November 4, 1956, Ron joined the United States Air Force. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and technical training at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi he was assigned as a Ground Control Technician in the Aircraft Control and Warning Systems in Canada and Colorado. Airman First Class Harbaugh was honorably discharged on November 4, 1960 with a Good Conduct Medal.
After marrying Shirley Elaine Peterson in North Dakota on February 11, 1961, he and his wife moved to Urbana, Ohio where he worked as a radio technician for the New York Central Station in Springfield, Ohio. By September 1961, they were living in Cincinnati.
Ron joined the City of Cincinnati as a Radio Technician at the Radio Shop (1106 Bates Avenue) in March 1970 under the Municipal Garage. He attended the University of Cincinnati from 1970 to 1976, apparently at night, majoring in engineering. He also took various courses in radio and telephony communications. In June 1978, he was promoted to Shop Supervisor. In November 1984, he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Telecommunications (1430 Martin Drive) under the Safety Department. Sometime before July 1997, his office moved to Cincinnati Police Communication Section (310 Ezzard Charles Drive). On December 14, 1997, the Telecommunications Division was divided with Telecommunications going to the Public Utilities Department and Superintendent Harbaugh’s position reclassified as Supervising Management Analyst and in charge of Cincinnati Police Communications Section, including Fire Communications. His immediate function was to chair a committee looking into 9-1-1 lapses that may or may not have occurred subsequent to the deaths of two policemen during the previous December. He also spearheaded the implementation of the new Computer Assisted Dispatch (CAD) and 800 MHz radio systems and laid the groundwork for the future 3-1-1 implementation. Superintendent Harbaugh retired on February 1, 2001 with almost 35 years of service to his country and community.
Superintendent Harbaugh died on June 23, 2025 at the age of 86.
He was predeceased by his grandchildren, Diana (Dean) King and Adam Dean, and great-grandchildren Aaron King and Akira King. Superintendent Harbaugh is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley Elaine (Peterson) Harbaugh; children, Debra Roell, Brian Lee (Debbie) Harbaugh, Pamela Sue Harbaugh, Keven Lee (Gina) Harbaugh, and Allen Lee (Amanda) Harbaugh; 15 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Terry Harbaugh and Janis Gershman.
Visitation will take place on Monday, June 30, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Mihovk-Rosenacker Funeral Home at 10211 Plainfield Road. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Entombment to follow at Rest Haven Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church.
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