Ronald Paul Vail, 84, died peacefully at home, Thursday, April 21, 2016. Born in Shamokin, PA on August 19, 1931, he was a son of the late Frederick P. Vail and Goldie Ann McCullom Vail. A graduate of Emporium High School in Emporium, PA, he was a veteran of the US Air Force serving from 1949 until 1952 during the Korean War. Following his service he attended Penn State and married Margaret Louise Scott in 1958. In 1963 he went to work in Washington, DC for the federal government from which he retired in 1991 having traveled all 50 states thru his work. Ron loved the game of golf and had three holes in one on courses in three different states. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Past Grand Knight, Council 990. Ron was a past Rotarian, volunteered with Little League Baseball, and was a Eucharistic Minister and Usher at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Emporium, PA. He and his wife, "Peggy", moved to Columbia in 2013 to be closer to their niece and nephew, Rick and Bernice Kernan and their family, Ricky and Faith, of Blythewood.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Margaret Louise "Peggy" Vail; brother, John S. Vail (Judy) of Norcross, GA; sister, Ann V. Laluk (Tom) of Huntington Beach, CA; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 o'clock, Monday, April 25, 2016 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 100 Polo Road, Columbia. The family will receive friends following the service in the parish hall. Final Commendation and Farewell Prayers will be held 12 o'clock in Fort Jackson National Cemetery.