Ronald Halsey

August 11, 1934 - November 29, 2018

Ronald Lee Halsey, age 84 of 7002 US Hwy 221, Laurel Springs, NC passed away Thursday, November 29, 2018 at his residence. He was born August 11, 1934 in Grayson County, Virginia to the late Robert Greek and Clara Lyons Halsey. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Clef Halsey and Ralph Benton Halsey; daughter-in-law, Teresa Bass Halsey; great-grandson, Eli Thomas Halsey. Mr. Halsey spent his career in the printing industry. Growing up in Alleghany County, NC, he was introduced to large format photography by his uncle Merle Cornett of Elk Creek, VA. He worked with Merle in Roanoke, VA, then moved to King Printing Company in Bristol, VA and eventually became supervisor of the camera department at Kingsport Press, in Kingsport, TN at the time, the largest book printer in the world. While working there, he met and supervised the production of books for Ansel Adams and Tricia Nixon Eisenhower among others. Kingsport bought the first Imposer camera made by Opti-Copy of Kansas City, MO. Mr. Halsey eventually went to work for them, traveling around the world, servicing customers in Germany, Australia and Japan. In 1988 he left Opti-Copy and founded Imaging Specialists, Inc. in Greensboro, NC. ISI offered prepress, camera services to the printing industry and, over the years, worked for printers including R.R. Donnelley, Banta Press, Nicholstone, Edwards & Broughton and many others. In 2003, he retired, home to Sparta, NC, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eloise Coleman Halsey of the home; three sons, Roger Halsey and wife Michele of Oak Ridge, TN, Jeff Halsey and wife Sharon of Laurel Springs, NC, Alan Halsey of Kingsport, TN; one daughter, Joyce Pierson and husband Roger of Kingsport, TN; five grandchildren, Tracy Pierson of Chattanooga, TN, Claire Brooks and husband David of Sparta, NC, Amanda Pierson of Kingsport, TN, Jeremy Halsey of Laurel Springs, NC, Casey Halsey and wife Heather of Kingsport, TN; one great-grandson, Hayden Halsey of Kingsport, TN; several nieces and nephews also survive. The family requests the honor of your presence at the Celebration of Life service to honor Ronald at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 2, 2018 at Piney Creek United Methodist Church with Reverend Jack Tookey officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society, PO Box 817, Sparta, NC 28675. Grandview Memorial Funeral Home is proudly serving the Halsey family and if you wish, online condolences may be submitted to the family at www.grandviewfuneralhome.com