RONNIE RAY SCHILLING, JR.
Husband of Mary Evelyn Alford Schilling, AAFA #0056
1926–2005
SUN HERALD
Biloxi, Harrison Co., MS—Saturday, 20 August 2005
Ronnie R. Schilling, Jr., age 78, of Long Beach
[Harrison Co., MS], died on August 18, 2005, surrounded by his family after a
10-month battle with lymphoma.
Ron was born on October 24, 1926, in Mt. Hermon,
Louisiana, where he grew up and worked the family’s dairy farm. After
graduating from high school, Ron served throughout the Pacific theater with the
US Navy during World War II. From the deck of Landing Craft-Infantry (LCI) 740,
he witnessed the raising of the US flag on Iwo Jima.
Ron graduated Southeastern Louisiana College in
Hammond, Louisiana with a Bachelors degree in mathematics. He then returned to
his hometown and taught at the Mt. Hermon School. It was here where he met his
wife, Mary Evelyn Alford. They moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1952
where Ron taught electronics at Keesler Air Force Base.
As the US Space Program began to build in the
late 1950’s, Ron was offered the opportunity to work with the General Electric
Company. He accepted the challenge and was actively involved with US strategic
missile and the space programs. During this period, Ron and the family lived in
North Carolina, Tennessee, Nebraska, Arizona, California, New York, and
Florida.
Many years and three children later, Ron and the
family moved to Long Beach, Mississippi, where Ron worked in the Space Program
in Hancock County. As the Space program drew down, Ron took advantage of the
opportunity to go into business for himself, fulfilling a lifelong dream. He
owned Southeastern Equipment Company, Coin Op Laundry Equip Co., and Con-Ac
Self Storage in Long Beach, Mississippi.
Ron loved the water. He spent many hours and
days on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and thoroughly enjoyed lounging on his
boat in Orange Beach, Alabama. Ron also loved to travel in his motor home. He
and Mary traveled throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Ron was a great son, husband, father,
grandfather, and, simply, a good and honest man.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ronnie
R. (Cool) Schilling, and his mother, Hazel (Jack) Varnado Schilling, both of
Mt. Hermon.
He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years,
Mary Alford Schilling; his son, Lt. Col. Ronnie Schilling III and wife, Jill
(Bryant), of Colorado Springs, CO; two daughters, Terri Jermyn and son-in-law,
Kevin, of Panama City, Florida, and Sharon Andrews of Rio Rancho, NM; five
grandchildren, Mitchell, Ronnie, Daniel, T.J., and Kelly; two sisters, Beulah
(Ford) Alford of Monroe, Louisiana and Betty (Edward) Schilling of Metairie,
Louisiana; and numerous nieces, nephews, their families, and cousins, all of
whom he loved.
Visitation will be Saturday, August 20, from
6:00-8:00 PM at Riemann Funeral Home on 25th Ave, Gulfport followed by the
services on Sunday, August 21 at 2:00 PM at Crain Funeral Home, Franklinton,
LA.
Visitation will be from 12 noon till service
time. He will be interred beside his parents in the Mt. Hermon Cemetery....
AAFA NOTES: SSDI records confirm the birth and death dates
of Ronnie R. Schilling (SS# issued in LA).
Ronnie and Mary were married on 19 April 1952.
Mary is the daughter of Ollie James Alford and Wanza Mildred Alford, and is a
cousin of Gil Alford and many other AAFA members.
His wife’s paternal lineage: Mary Evelyn 1934 LA1,
Ollie Jim 1911 LA2, Wiley Banton 1886 LA3, Jeptha Martin
1862 LA4, John Seaborn 1807 LA5, Jacob 1761 NC6,
Julius 1717 NC7, James 1687 VA8, John 1645 VA9.
His wife’s maternal lineage: Mary Evelyn 1934 LA1,
Wanza Mildred 1909 LA2, Virgil E. 1881 LA3, John Griffin
1851 LA4, John Seaborn 1807 LA5, Jacob 1761 NC6,
Julius 1717 NC7, James 1687 VA8, John 1645 VA9.
Virgil E. Alford 1881 LA married Tena Alford, so
Mary had a third Alford line: Tena 1883 LA3, Seaborn Lochran 1844 LA
LA4, John Seaborn 1807 LA5, Jacob 1761 NC6,
Julius 1717 NC7, James 1687 VA8, John 1645 VA9.
