History: Wilson E. Weckel, the Original W8AL

For now, we have discovered his obituary on Page 11 of the Thursday, December 30th, 1971 edition of The Canton Repository, found on microfilm at the Stark Country District Library in downtown Canton: You can click on the image to view a high-resolution scan in pdf format.

Death Claims Radio 'Ham' W. E. Weckel

One of Canton's best known "ham" radio operators, Wilson E. Weckel, 72, of 1317 Logan Ave. NW, died Wednesday morning in Timken Mercy Hospital.

A life resident of the area, Mr. Weckel was the grandson of Wilson C. Berger, founder of the Berger Mfg. Co.

He was a member of the Church of the Savior United Methodist, Nazir Grotto, Wm. McKinley Lodge, F&AM, the U.S. Naval Institute, the Amateur Radio Relay League, the Canton Radio Club, and the Old-Timers and Quarter Century Radio Clubs.

He is survived by his widow, Ruth Weckel; a son, Richard B. Weckel of Canton, and six grandchildren. A son, Wilson E. Weckel Jr., died in 1964.

Private services will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. in the Spiker-Foster funeral home. Burial will be in West Lawn Cemetery.

There are no calling hours.

Wm. McKinley Lodge will have private services tonight at 7 in the funeral home.