The Clarkston area lost a longtime leader and friend Dec. 24, with the death of Frank G. “Tink” Ronk, at the age of 78.
Ronk was born in Clarkston, and joined the Independence Township Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter in 1947. After high school, he worked at Morgan’s Service Station while studying at the Flint Institute of Barbering.
He served in the armed forces during the Korean War, after which he returned to Clarkston to open a barbershop, on the west side of Main Street between Bob’s hardware and the post office, which he operated for 20 years. His barbershop, located near where the Chocolate Moose shop is now, was a hub of activity in the ’50s and ’60s, said friend and neighbor Ralph Chambers.
“Those days, you’d go downtown, and everyone would know everyone,” said Chambers, one of about 255 Clarkston area residents whose names appeared in a Clarkston News ad on Aug. 1, 1984, supporting Ronk for supervisor.
“Tink’s barbershop was the center of the hub of everything that went on in town.”
One customer was Dan Fife, Clarkston High School athletic director and another supporter from 1984.
“I’ve known Tink since I was 11 and began getting my hair cut,” said Fife, who has and is coaching many of Ronk’s children and grandchildren.
“He was a good man,” Fife said. “Never knew him not to have a smile on his face. Always felt he was happy to see you and genuinely glad to see you.”
Ronk hosted meetings of the Clarkston Area Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees. They would gather to plan community activities, such as clearing out brush from what would become Depot Park, and the occasional prank.
“One time, we got together 100 white Oldsmobile convertibles and drove all together down to the Jaycees convention in Louisville,” Chambers said. “That was a wonderful convention.”
Ronk was named Independence Township’s first full-time fire chief in 1972. He served on the Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education and the Independence Township Board as supervisor from 1984-1992.
“There isn’t a nicer person you could meet than Tink Ronk,” said township Treasurer Jim Wenger.
“He’s done well for the community both in terms of political and as fire chief. He’s meant a lot to the community.”
“He was a good person, good fireman, good dad, good granddad, and a good friend,” Fife said. “God definitely threw away the mold after he made him.”
Ronk had natural leadership abilities, strong personality, and a great sense of humor, said township Trustee Larry Rosso.
“He was really a remarkable individual,” Rosso said. “He brought all kinds of enthusiasm to whatever he did, whatever he engaged in. A real people person, just a genuine good person through and through. He would do anything for anyone, he was very kind and very people oriented. He was just really the human element of what our community is all about, he was right in the forefront.?
As a young man, Ronk and his brother, John, would spring into action when rain flooded Middle Lake and Paramus roads, even in the middle of the night, Chambers said.
“Tink and his brother would get out there in knee deep water at two or three at night and pump the street clear,” Chambers said.
The Ronk family has been key community leaders for decades. His mother, the late Elizabeth Ronk, was Clarkston’s postmaster, and worked with the post office for 37 years. His son Steve Ronk followed in his father’s footsteps as an Independence Township firefighter since 1976 and has served as fire chief since 2000.
‘He was as good as they get in this community,” Rosso said. “We have a core of legends that come out of this community; he was right near the top. He rank right near the very top few, that’s how notable he was to our community.?
“He’s what made Clarkston, Clarkston,” Fife said. “Clarkston lost a true friend.”
Frank Ronk was the husband of Mary, father of Kathryn Vachon, Steve (Anne) Ronk, and Rob (Melissa) Ronk, grandpa of Andrea, Rob, Tommy, Drew, Emma, and Maryn, and brother of John.
Memorial service was Dec. 28 at the Clarkston United Methodist Church. Inurnment, Lakeview Cemetery, Clarkston. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Independence Twp. Fireman’s Fund or a charity of your own choice. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Lewis E. Wint & Son Funeral Home, Clarkston. Online guest book, www.wintfuneralhome.com.
Trevor Keiser and Wendi Reardon contributed to this report.