Ronald C. Wilhelm Sr.
November 21, 1927 – September 12, 2018
Ronald C. Wilhelm Sr. of Sun City Center, Fla. died September 12, 2018, at the age of 90. Ronald was born November 21, 1927, in Chicago, Ill.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
As a child, Ronald spent summers with his family in Wonder Lake, Ill., where he developed a love for the outdoors. Ronald served in the United States Navy during World War II, earning the Victory Medal and the American Area Campaign Medal as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class at Glenview Naval Air Station, Glenview, Ill. Ronald’s love of flying eventually led him to become a private pilot, a hobby he enjoyed for over 20 years.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
Ronald worked for Zenith Radio Corporation, Chicago, Ill. starting as a stock chaser in 1948 and leaving in 1977 as Director of Product Safety. From 1977 until his retirement in 1995, Ronald was the Director of Product Safety and Government Compliance for SDI Technologies Inc., Rahway, N.J. In 1996, Ronald relocated with his wife Phyllis to Sun City Center, Fla. where he enjoyed lawn bowling and held the office of both Vice-President and President of the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
Ronald was predeceased by his parents Clarence and Mildred (Sasek) Wilhelm, his wife Bettianne (Bogart) Wilhelm and his brother Richard Wilhelm. Ronald is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years Phyllis J. Kimec-Wilhelm, Sun City Center, Fla.; his daughter Julie Sussman, Orlando, Fla.; his son Ronald C. Wilhelm Jr. (Denise), San Jose, Calif.; his brother-in-law, Joseph A. Kimec (Susan) of Richmond, Va.; his grandsons Ronald Bigger of Orlando, Fla., Joshua Sussman (Marie) of Villisca, Iowa and Nicolas Kurt Wilhelm of San Jose, Calif.; his great-grandchildren, Dakota Bigger of Orlando, Fla. and Liam Sussman of Villisca, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
As a child, Ronald spent summers with his family in Wonder Lake, Ill., where he developed a love for the outdoors. Ronald served in the United States Navy during World War II, earning the Victory Medal and the American Area Campaign Medal as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class at Glenview Naval Air Station, Glenview, Ill. Ronald’s love of flying eventually led him to become a private pilot, a hobby he enjoyed for over 20 years.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
Ronald worked for Zenith Radio Corporation, Chicago, Ill. starting as a stock chaser in 1948 and leaving in 1977 as Director of Product Safety. From 1977 until his retirement in 1995, Ronald was the Director of Product Safety and Government Compliance for SDI Technologies Inc., Rahway, N.J. In 1996, Ronald relocated with his wife Phyllis to Sun City Center, Fla. where he enjoyed lawn bowling and held the office of both Vice-President and President of the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>
Ronald was predeceased by his parents Clarence and Mildred (Sasek) Wilhelm, his wife Bettianne (Bogart) Wilhelm and his brother Richard Wilhelm. Ronald is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years Phyllis J. Kimec-Wilhelm, Sun City Center, Fla.; his daughter Julie Sussman, Orlando, Fla.; his son Ronald C. Wilhelm Jr. (Denise), San Jose, Calif.; his brother-in-law, Joseph A. Kimec (Susan) of Richmond, Va.; his grandsons Ronald Bigger of Orlando, Fla., Joshua Sussman (Marie) of Villisca, Iowa and Nicolas Kurt Wilhelm of San Jose, Calif.; his great-grandchildren, Dakota Bigger of Orlando, Fla. and Liam Sussman of Villisca, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.