Ron Lankford (the Roland V-Accordion Manager for the US) has passed away.

He found out 2 weeks ago that he had a kidney tumor.

After surgery, he returned home for a few day, but was readmitted on Tuesday and passed away today, Thursday (11th March 2010).

Picture above left: Faithe and Ron Lankford, Joseph and Giovanna Natoli at the 2008 Roland International Festival and Competition in Rome.

Further details of funeral arrangements and where to send messages of condolence will be posted shortly as soon as they are available.

Joseph Natoli wrote the following article:
I’ve had to take 24 hours to try to absorb the shock of finding out about Ron’s passing yesterday. I had to come in a day early down to Dallas NAA convention to fill in for Ron for the first day Roland setup activities, since he was ill and could not come this year.

When I got this tragic news yesterday afternoon (after just sending him a get well card the day before), I was and will continue to be devastated for a long time to come. Ron touched so many lives in such a positive way….and there will never be a more passionate zealot for the accordion than Ron.

He never had an unkind word to say about anyone and always managed to find the positive in anyone. The fact that I feel such a closeness to Ron after being his friend less than two years is a testament to the wonderful person he was. He has certainly become one of the most influential people in my life.

When we (my wife and I) went to the 2008 Roland International Festival together with Ron and his wife Faith, we had such a great time together that we promised each other we would make the trip again together under less stressful conditions (outside the context of a competition).

That trip will never happen, and it certainly reminds one of how thin the line is between this world and the next. I guess that should be a lesson to all of us to enjoy life now, laugh often and love much. We certainly don’t know what tomorrow brings, and if someone would have told me three weeks ago that we all would have lost this dear friend yesterday, I would never have believed it.

Last year, Ron was in the front row for the final concert here in Dallas, and he was the first one rising to his feet for standing ovations. He loved the instrument, he loved his place in life with Roland and the position it put him in to help the accordion rise to its rightful place with all the other instruments and instrumentalists.

Ron is sadly sadly missed here in Dallas this year, but I know in my heart that he will be in that same front row seat tomorrow night, and will be the first person rising to his feet to cheer us all on for the future of the instrument he loved some much.

Good bye buddy. Thanks so much for everything and for becoming such a special influence in my life.

My special condolences and prayers to Ron’s family.

Regards,
Joe

The service arrangements for Ron Lankford have been set:

Parkway Christian Center
229 N.E. Beacon Drive
Grants Pass, OR 97526
(541)-479-2639 (541)-479-2639

The service will be held at 4pm on Friday March 19th.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to be made in care of Ron Lankford to the:
Rogue Valley Medical Center Foundation
2600 Siskiyou Blvd. #100
Medford, OR 97504
www.rvncfoundations.org

For any of you who want to communicate with Ron’s family, here is the home address:

4444 Rogue River Hwy.
Grants Pass, OR 97527

Ron is survived by his wife Faith, and 4 children (Elijah, Brockman, Brittany and Ronnie).