Ascutney, VT - Vernon Ronald Alflen, 91, died Monday, July 13, 2026, at the Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center in Windsor, VT.

He was born November 25, 1934, in North Royalton, OH where he grew up and graduated from high school. Ron enlisted in the US Navy after high school where he was proud to serve with the Seabee’s. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy he began his career as a lineman with Ohio Bell in Cleveland. He met Shirley Bergen at a summer carnival and they were later married. The couple settled in Parma, OH, and began their family. In the mid 1970’s they decided to move to Vermont, where they had honeymooned, for a more pastoral lifestyle. Ron transferred to New England Bell and later retired from AT&T.

Ron enjoyed giving back and was very active in his community. He served as a Boy Scout leader in both Ohio and Vermont, was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church where he was active as an usher, in the Knights of Columbus, and was a volunteer assistant coach for the Windsor High School football team. He also served for many years in the Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department, including as their treasurer for several years.

In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and woodworking. He was a talented gunsmith and was accomplished at both carving wood stocks and smithing and bluing the metal actions and barrels. Ron was always willing to help anyone who needed it and often put his woodworking skills to use restoring furniture for families who were victims of fires. Ron was an avid Ohio State football fan – Go Buckeyes!

He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley, in 2015.

He leaves his children, Robert Alflen (Shelley) of Ascutney, VT, Denise Kaplin of Warwick, RI and Audrey Alflen of Concord, NH.

A graveside service will be held in the St. Francis Cemetery in Windsor, VT on Monday, July 20th at 11 am.

Condolences to Ron’s family may be made in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.