JESUP — A 62-year-old Waycross man, Ronald Hrabar of Waycross, drowned June 11 in Lake Lindsay Grace, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law-Enforcement Division said.
According to the DNR report, Hrabar drowned while swimming across the lake with two 12-yearold boys identified as his grandsons.
The report said the agent talked to the two boys, who described the events that led to their grandfather’s death. The boys said the three had swum some 350 yards across the lake and on the way back, Hrabar began to struggle.
The boys said after their grandfather began to struggle, he attempted to float on his back, and they went to get help.
DNR agents and a local search-and-rescue team were notified about 4:30 p.m. June 11. Agents began a search for the man and found his body a few hours later, the report said.
The report said Hrabar’s body was recovered at 9:15 p.m. in eight feet of water.
Hrabar was identified by Wayne County Coroner Ted Mathis.
Hrabar was active in youth sports since 1998 with the Ware County Recreation Department as both a team coach and game official, Director Lance Adamson said.
“He helped us out tremendously being a basketball and baseball official,” Adamson said Monday. “He coached some of everything. He’ll really be missed.”
A Celebration of Life service was held Saturday at the Trembling Earth Complex. Memorial donations in Hrabar’s honor can be made to the Ware County Recreation Department, c/o Ron Hrabar Memorial Fund, 2110 Cecil Brown Drive, 31501, to help underprivileged children participate in sports.
Six children, 13 grand children and five siblings are among Hrabar’s survivors.
