Ronald Freddie Broach

Ronald Freddie Broach, of Coward, died at home on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, after a short and brutal battle with small cell lung cancer. He was 61. He is remembered as a loving husband and father, a skilled mechanic, and a reliable and valued friend to many.

Ronald was born August 7, 1956, in Florence, the son of the late Freddie and Ruth Poston Broach. He was a lifelong resident of Coward. He attended school at J.C. Lynch and married his sweetheart, Sandra Teal, at 19. They celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary last May. He loved her dearly through his last breath and was always happiest when she was by his side.

Having had a passion for cars from a young age, Ronald worked as an auto mechanic for most of his life, including many years working with his father-in-law Jack Teal. He often helped friends and family with their vehicle issues at no charge. He was always quick to help anyone in need. After he became sick in September, many of those who visited him at home and in the hospital recounted the ways in which he had helped them when they needed it and the impact that had on them. He never asked for thanks and, in most cases, had never even spoken of his kind deeds.

For the last 25 years, Ronald was a parts specialist and salesman at Advance Auto Parts. Many customers spoke of how they would call to make sure he was working before they went to the store. They knew he was extremely knowledgeable about vehicles and all their components, and trusted him to treat them fairly and help them with whatever issue they were having. He also owned a used car dealership, Broach’s Auto Sales, for a number of years.

Ronald was generally a man of few words. And with every project he worked on, he was a perfectionist. If he did a job, it was a guarantee it would be done right. If he built something, he built it to last forever.

He was a father to two and always worked hard to provide for his son and daughter, made sure they knew he was proud of them, and showed them they were loved by trying to make their lives easier where he was able. He was also proud of his future son-in-law and was eager to welcome him into the family.

In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing and being with his family. His dog, Katie, was his constant companion. He was also a collector of many items, including model cars, matchbox cars and nutcrackers, which he always looked forward to bringing out and putting on display each Christmas.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Shirley, who died in infancy. He is survived by, and dearly missed by, his wife, Sandra; a daughter, Jacquelyn Renae Broach (Brandon “Randy” Akers); a son, Jason Ronald Broach; a sister, Glenda Broach Kennedy; and several nieces, nephews and cousins, along with numerous friends.

The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, November 3, 2017 at Carolina Funeral Home on Highway 378 in Scranton.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 4, 2017 at the Carolina Funeral Home Chapel, with burial to follow at Matthews Cemetery in Coward.

Memorials may be made to McLeod Hospice, 1203 E. Cheves St., Florence, SC 29506, or to an animal rescue agency of your choice.

The family would like to offer special thanks to the staff of the oncology floor at McLeod Regional Medical Center, as well as the staff of McLeod Hospice.

An online guest book is available at www.carolinafuneralhome.net

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