1932 – 2015

LEWISTON — Ronald Coleman “Sonny” Hynes, 83, of Auburn, died peacefully with his wife and children by his side on Friday, April 24. Ron spent his final days under the loving and kind care of Androscoggin Home Hospice and the staff at Montello Manor.

He was born on March 19, 1932, in Portland, a son of Goldie (Beckwith) and Norwood Hynes. He attended school in Cumberland and graduated for the Greely Institute in 1949.

On May 3, 1952, he married Jacqueline Polley “Jackie,” at Emmaus Lutheran Church in Falmouth, with whom he spent the next 63 years. Together they lived and raised their family in Falmouth, Augusta and Auburn.

He met Jackie while working at BD Sterns in Portland, but soon left there to begin a long and successful career working for Coca-Cola of Maine. Over the next 35 plus years, he worked tirelessly to grow Coca-Cola’s business across central Maine. He was known by anyone that came in contact with him for the passion he held for Coca-Cola. He retired in 1990 as the general manager of the central Maine operation of Coca-Cola of Northern New England.

He was a charter member of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on Eastern Avenue in Augusta, where he was an exuberant member of the choir and at one point was elected as the church’s president. He represented the church at the National Lutheran Church Convention in Omaha, Neb., in 1972.

Among other interests, Ron was a hunter, fisher and cribbage player. He was also member of the Elks Lodge in both Augusta and Lewiston. Ron was also an avid golfer and, as a member of Augusta and then Martindale Country Club, was very proud of the fact that he eventually got to a single-digit handicap.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie; daughter, Roxanne Panek and her husband, Walter, of Manchester; daughter, Carolyn Martin and her husband, Bill, of Auburn; and son, Ron and his wife, Stacy (Bornstein), of Ridgefield, Conn.; eight grandchildren, Mathew Hynes, Benjamin Martin, Dustin Martin, Joshua Panek, Chelsea Bernier (Martin), and Ethan, Amelia, and Eliot Hynes; great-grandchildren, Chloe Martin and Sura Lyn Martin; and sister, Sandra Phelan.

He was predeceased by his parents; his in-laws, Royden and Eva Polley; his brother, Allen “Buddy” Hynes; and his sister, Norma Peterson.

You are invited to offer condolences and pay tribute to Ronald’s life by visiting his guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.