Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

October 3, 2021

CHARLOTTE –  Ronald “Ronnie” Glenn Sherrill, 72, of Charlotte died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Sunday, October 3, 2021.  Ronnie was born in Charlotte, NC on November 30, 1948 to Blanche Sparks Sherrill and the late Joseph Glenn Sherrill.  Ronnie spent his early years in Charlotte with a brief move to Salisbury.  He attended Charlotte public schools graduating from South Mecklenburg High School in 1966 and from N.C. State University in 1970 with a degree in Civil Engineering.  Ronnie was a member of Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity at N.C. State where he met and formed many great friends.  He served our country in the Army Reserves for 7 years while also starting his career at SteelFab, a structural steel fabrication company that his father founded in 1955.  Ronnie spent summers and Christmas breaks working for SteelFab in the plant and knew at a young age that he wanted to work with his Dad in the steel business.  He began his career at SteelFab working as a supervisor in the plant and a draftsman.  By 1973 he was asked by his father to move into the office full time and take over sales, estimating and project management.  He became President of Steelfab in 1980 and retired as Chairman and CEO in 2017 after almost 50 years in the business.  He often stated one of the highlights of his life was being able to not only have worked with his father and two brothers, but to have worked alongside his two sons.  Ronnie cherished his time spent at his home in Linville Ridge with his wife, Paulette. 

He loved playing golf with his sons, friends and customers.  He was fortunate to have belonged to several golf clubs but truly loved spending time at Quail Hollow Club where he claimed to always learn something new and important at the “Table of Knowledge AKA the Fact Free Zone.”  Ronnie lived his life by the golden rule of treating others like you want to be treated.  In addition to donating quietly to many non-profits he served on the boards of the American Institute of Steel Construction, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Dowd YMCA, McColl Center for Visual Arts, NorthWestern Bank and First Union Advisory Boards, as well as chairing the fundraising committee for Charlotte Muscular Dystrophy Association for a number of years. 

Ronnie is survived by his devoted wife, Paulette Eckard Sherrill; his son, Glenn and Glenn’s sons, Jack and Will and his son, Stuart and his wife, Cameron and their children, Luke and Celia; his stepson, David Brewer and his wife, Laura and their daughter, Sarah and stepson, Matthew Brewer.  He is also survived by his mother, Blanche; his sister, Marie Sherrill Baker and her husband, Harry; his brothers, Don and his wife, Susan and Phillip and his wife, Laura and many nephews and nieces. 

Ronnie was blessed to have had many great friends throughout his life, but one would be hard pressed to find friends as loyal as Duke Almon, Chuck Hood, John Myles, Ed Rose, brother-in-law, Ben Amonette and his brother, Don.  The family would also like to thank Mike Ruffin, Marian Akonor, and the ladies of Waltonwood for taking such good care of Ronnie during his final days. 

A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens Road in Charlotte.  The service will be livestreamed at https://livestream.com/mpumc/funeral for those unable to attend in person.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of Ronnie to the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, 57 West 57th Street, Suite 904, New York, NY 10019 or Humane Society of Charlotte, 2700 Toomey Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203. 

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.