Roland A. (Ron) Beltz

Roland (Ron) Allen Beltz passed away on March 21, 2023. Ron was born in Momineetown on July 9, 1944, and graduated from Central Catholic High School ‘62 and the University of Detroit ‘67. His major was in journalism won some national scholastic awards for his reporting. During summer break employment at the Dearborn Press as a news editor, his first major story was reporting on the 1967 Detroit riots. After graduation, he worked for Libbey Owens Ford Company in public relations as a national news writer for the company. He established Northwood Studio in 1970 and was the photographer for 30 years. During that time, he photographed over 1100 weddings and photographed over 150,000 students in the Toledo area. He operated Northwood Color Lab and processed film and photos for area photographers. He was the owner of Ron’s Concessions for 35 years operating concession trailers in Northwest Ohio. He and his partner Nancy also operated Black Forest Confections selling confections throughout the U.S. He was a charter member and a president of the Professional Photographers of Northwest Ohio. He won several national awards for his photography. Ron was a charter member of the Farmers Market of Toledo and the first treasurer. He was an avid singer his entire life with membership in the Central Catholic Alumni Glee Club, the University of Detroit Alumni Chorus, Teutonia Mannerchor, and the Toledo Swiss Singers. While at UD, he traveled nationally and internationally with the singing group. He was also a member and former trustee of the GAF Society. He enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the world, visiting over 64 countries. His hobby while traveling was studying European Cathedrals for design and architecture. A project that was special to him was being the editor and writing and producing the Central Catholic High School 100-year Centennial Yearbook in 2020.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Verna (Patke) Beltz. He is survived by sons Jeffrey (Katherine) and Steven (Mary), stepchildren Tracy Showalter and Brent Nowlin, loving companion and partner Nancy Nowlin, grandchildren Jordan, Ava (Fontaine), Lyla (Fontaine), Tanner and Lydia Beltz, Ella and Evelyn Beltz, Joseph (Aiton), sisters Barbara Hilbert, Jennifer Orkisz (Norbert), 6 nieces and nephews and many grand nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held at Freck Funeral Chapel, 1155 S Wynn Rd. in Oregon, on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, from 4 until 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m., with Fr. Keith Stripe officiating. Private inurnment will be held at St. Ignatius Cemetery in Oregon. Memorial contributions are appreciated to the Kidney Foundation.