Ronald Nicholas Karas

Ronald Nicholas “Ronny” Karas,77, of Weirton, West Virginia, passed away after a brief illness on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at WVU Medicine – J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Ronny was born on January 10, 1949, in Steubenville, Ohio, the elder of two sons born to Constantine “Gus” and Mary Jane Kidwell Karas. He grew up in Wintersville, Ohio, and graduated from Wintersville High School.

As a young man, while visiting Frank’s Bar in Weirton, Ronny met Michele McQuade, a Steubenville Big Red graduate. The two fell in love and were married on October 31. Together, they built their life in Weirton and were blessed with their daughter, Ashley Nicole.

Ronny was a worker and a provider in every sense of the word. He seemingly worked around the clock, seven days a week, always making sure his family was taken care of. He was the second generation involved in his family’s longtime Weirton business, carrying on an enterprise established by his father that was well known locally for taking wagers. During another chapter of his working life, Ronny owned and operated the Body Factory, a weightlifting gym on Main Street in Weirton. Long before fitness centers became commonplace, the Body Factory was a familiar gathering place for those serious about weightlifting and working out.

Those who knew Ronny knew loyalty was one of his defining qualities. When he cared about someone, he was there for them. For all the hours he spent working, however, nothing was more important to Ronny than his family. The time he spent with them was always the time he valued most.
Ronny enjoyed the simple routines of life. A favorite evening meant going out for dinner followed by a movie; although Ronny always called it going to see a “show.” Even dinner came with” the Ronny Karas touch”. He liked to order for everyone at the table, confident that he knew exactly what each person would enjoy.

He approached vacations much the same way he approached everything else: with a plan. Ronny could organize a trip down to the smallest detail, making sure everyone knew where they were going, what they were doing, and when they were doing it. And once he found a place he liked, there was little reason in his mind to change it. He simply went back year after year. Myrtle Beach held a particularly special place in his heart.

Beneath his hardworking exterior was a man whose life revolved around providing for and spending time with the people he loved. Ronny worked hard, loved deeply, remained fiercely loyal, and found happiness in the familiar traditions and people that made his life his own.

In addition to his parents, Constantine “Gus” and Mary Jane Kidwell Karas, Ronny was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Michele Karas, on June 14, 2015, and his brother, Stephen Constantine Karas, on March 12, 2021.

Ronny’s memory will live on through his daughter, Ashley Nicole, and the friends who knew his loyalty, generosity, unmistakable personality, and devotion to those he loved.

Ronny will be cremated at the Greco Hertnick Funeral Home Crematory. No traditional services are planned. Please keep Ashley in your prayers.

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