Ronald Keith Lechner crossed the great unknown on March 20, 2026. Ron was born on Nov. 14, 1958, in Middletown, CT, to the late Ernest and Violet (Brightbill) Lechner. He grew up in Lebanon, PA, where he attended Cedar Crest High School and graduated in 1977.
Ron loved engines, grease, and gears, and never met a machine he wasn’t fascinated by. Anyone who talked to Ron appreciated his genius when it came to seeing how mechanical things fit together. He spent his career fabricating one-of-a-kind parts for Hot Rods, sketching custom muscle car components until his final day on Earth.
Ron spent many miles with his ponytail in the breeze, riding his Harley along the winding roads of Lebanon and the surrounding counties. His pack of nieces used to help him braid his hair to keep it out of his face before he finally succumbed to the barber chair.
Ron was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy; and brother, Tom. He is survived by his siblings, Jane (Harry) Killian and Judy (Dave) Leggat; nieces; and a crew of grand-nieces and -nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends he considered family.
Ron’s many nieces and their children loved his enthusiasm for 3D-printed fidgets, Moravian sugar cookies, and the faded dragon he hoped would serve as a cautionary tale to avoid green-colored ink on an arm tat. (Alas, most of his nieces do, in fact, have green-colored ink on arm tattoos, but are careful to moisturize in deference to his experience.)
Ron was known for his quiet kindness, whether it was letting someone else win at chess or lending a hand with household repairs. When you hear the rumble of a beautiful machine, his family asks you to pause and appreciate how much Ron would have loved to take it apart.
Funeral services will be held privately at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the American Heart Association in Ron’s honor. Thompson Funeral Home Inc. is entrusted with the arrangements. The family welcomes your memories and messages in Thompson Funeral Home’s online guest book at thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com.
