Willard Ronald Nocho Jr.

Willard Ronald Nocho, Jr. (AKA Brother) was born on August 2, 1958, in Pennsylvania to Mr. Willard and Mrs. Estella Nocho. The Patriarch of the Nocho Family, Willard Ronald Nocho, Jr. was a man of a lot of words. As a little boy he played little league baseball which was across from Hitsville, USA Museum where he would see artists such as: Berry Gordy, Jr., Martha Reeves, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, and the Temptations at times. The family use to drive around Marvin Gaye’s house which Ron loved. He also had an opportunity to visit the Hall of Fame in Ohio. Most of his young adult years were spent growing up in Detroit, Michigan. Willard attended Mumford High School in Detroit, Michigan and Avon Grove High School in West Grove, PA. After graduating he enlisted into the United State Army, National Guard, and Reserve from August 1976 to April 2010. He worked as a 76Y/92Y10 Unit Supply Specialist (1976 - 1995), Lead Technician (1995-96), Logistics Technician (1996 – 2001), Field Service Technician (2001-2005), Automation Technician (2005-2006), and Information Technician (2007-2010). Sgt Nocho was featured in the MOS Spotlight Up in Arms newspaper for being a skilled armorer. He also assisted operation NCOIC in preparing waiver packets for enlistments which increased the size of the field recruiting force from 43 to 74. While serving as an Information Technician at the Baltimore MEPS in Fort Meade, MD, he was awarded the Joint Service Achievement Medal. Sgt Nocho was instrumental in posturing the Baltimore Military Entrance Processing Station's technology to execute the Command's first ever e-Security program as a model for implementation at 65 stations across the country. He personally enrolled nearly 3,000 applicants through a state of the art, biometric process that includes digital photography and fingerprinting. Sgt Nocho's efforts helped shape the blueprint to eradicate fraudulent enlistments. As evidence of Sgt Nocho's outstanding technical abilities, the Station earned an “Excellent" rating during the Inspector General’s visit. Over his military career Ron received: the Army Achievement Medal (2x), US Air Force Certificate of Appreciation, US Air Force Certificate of Achievement, The Maryland State Service Medal (2x), The Army Reserves Components Medal (2x), First Battalion 175th Infantry Regiment Certificate of Achievement, US Army Material Command Coin of Achievement, Dept of the Army Certificate of Appreciation, the Army Service Ribbon (3x), the National Defense Service Medal (3x), Armed Forces Reserve Medal (2x), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Aid to Civil Auth Citation, American Soldier Defender of Freedom Certificate, Noble Eagle/Homeland Security Recognition and several achievement challenge coins. His friends Stanford, Owens, Lloyd, Jordan, Mike, Tommy, and Harrison were always there for him. Ron enjoyed having talks and laughs with them about the old days and life in general. Over the years he connected with fellow Army buddies at Kingdom Builders COGIC to include Pastor Fowlkes, Errol Kerns, Kimble Bouyer, Ron Lilly, and Lee Abbitt. He and his friend Sandra Abbitt would say they were brother and sister from another mother, she often visited him while he was in the hospital. Gloria Lilly is a longtime friend of Ron and Melissa who’s been there for them from the beginning. She had a way of arguing with Ron one minute then making him laugh the next. Ron loved his siblings. He enjoyed phone calls with his brother Tommy and respected his brother for being a father to Mia and Lil Tommy despite having challenges. Ron would say his sister Donna “Is chugga, chugga down the road.” Meaning she was driving to slow! LOL. He and his baby sister Debbie were always cracking up and arguing with each other all in the same day. Debbie was there for Ron every Thursday when she came down to visit with him. His baby brother Mark made him proud for taking Brooklyn on trips, to her games, on vacation and for being a good father to her. Ron adored his sons, Paul, Jeffrey, Mario and Markus, who he talked to almost every day. He wanted to make sure they were able to handle the most difficult times in their lives. At times he had to be tough on them by raising his voice and using a few choice words. The boys knew what he was talking about! Ron adopted Mario as his own son and maintained a close bond with him. A special memory was when Ron walked his daughter-in-law, Shay, down the aisle of Miami Beach to give her away to his son Paul. He desired the very best for his children and said no matter what he was going to be there for them! His grandchildren were his pride and joy. Oh, how he loved talking to and being silly with Mia, Elija, Airelle, and Sage. They would come down to visit and not want to go home. Their laughs would brighten his day. He had a special relationship with Sage because he helped raise her while Samirah and Markus were at work or hanging out. Ron’s grandchildren were very important to him. On January 13, 2024, Ron and Melissa celebrated 29 years of marriage. They met through mutual friend in 1995 and after few phone conversations they decided to meet at the Fireside Inn in Glen Burnie, MD. And the rest is history! Ron enjoyed taking Melissa back to Michigan to the places where his family lived and shared memories. He’d take a trip down memory lane to the gas station his father owned and the house he grew up on at 7 Mile Rd. She loved that it felt like they were on a famous Nocho tour. They would also visit her family in Michigan too. Every time they went home, they would visit the same areas and he had that same speech. Melissa would say, “Oh lord honey I remember you saying that before.” Ron gifted Melissa this poem: “God sent you down from heaven above. He sent you down for me to love. He picked you out from all the rest, because he knows I’d love you best.” Ron’s favorite things to do were watching the History Channel, Old movies, Law and Order, playing his guitars and most importantly, riding his Softtail Harley Davidson Motorcycle. His most memorable times were visiting home for his Family Reunions and making memories with his family and friends. Willard Ronald Nocho Jr. never accepted defeat; he was a warrior! He was preceded in death by his parents Willard Ronald Nocho, Sr., Estella Marie Nocho and son Markus Antonio Nocho. Survived by his wife Melissa Nocho of Odenton Maryland; 5 children: Paul Nocho with Quinshayah, Jeffrey Nocho with Sharde, Cassandra Walls and Mario White-Nocho; 3 siblings: Donna Nocho (Washington), Thomas Nocho Sr. (New Jersey), Deborah Nocho (Delaware) and Mark Davis (Delaware); grandchildren: Maya, Elijah, Sage, Arielle, Avery, Amaree; nieces and nephew: Ted, Terrell, Travis, Taylor, Torey, Mia, Thomas Jr. Nocho, David, Silvano, Jeremy Gonzalez, and Brooklyn Davis; 2 great aunts: Esther Barrett and Eva Nocho Bond (93 years old); and a host of cousins, in-laws, and friends.

Tributes

Willard Ronald Nocho Jr.

August 2, 1958 - January 22, 2024