Wilbert W. “Bill” Weckbacher

Another WWII and Korean War veteran has died… Wilbert W. “Bill” Weckbacher, 96, of Marietta, Ohio (formerly of Lowell, Ohio), passed away Sunday January 8, 2023 at Elison Assisted Living of Marietta, Ohio. He was born at his grandmother, Louisa Hercher’s home in Sycamore Valley, Ohio on July 9, 1926, eldest son of the late Roscoe and Daisy Anderson Weckbacher.
He served our country in the United States Navy from 1944-1953. He was awarded his High School Diploma in 2002. He looked forward to playing basketball at Graysville High School, but 3 days into his Senior year, he received a “Greetings” letter from Uncle Sam. He was drafted on Sept. 25, 1944. Wilbert was in the South Pacific and fought there. He ended up in the Marshall Islands repairing things on the ships. Wilbert called himself a “tin can sailor”. Later, Wilbert operated Landing Craft Mechanized (1CM) as Coxin 3rd Class Petty Officer. His first 2-yr. naval tour ended, June 17, 1946. He re-enlisted in Feb. 1948, and attended radar school on June 11, 1949 in Norfolk, Virginia. He was deployed as a radar operator in Combat Communications Center on destroyer USS Holder DDE 819 in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. On Jan. 13, 1953 the Korean War started. Wilbert ported all over North Atlantic and Mediterranean, and he said Spain was the best foreign port to be in. Wilbert’s highest rank was 1st Class Petty Officer when discharged May 13, 1953. While he was overseas, he received Air Mail letters from a young lady, Dorothy Riffle, whom he later dated and married on Dec. 5, 1950 at First Baptist Church, Marietta. Wilbert and Dorothy purchased a small farm and settled along the Muskingum River near Lowell, Ohio where they raised their 5 children.
Wilbert retired as TV Sales & Repairman at McWhirter Electric, Marietta. He invested his monies to expand TV sales with Motorola Quasar, modular TV, and later with Sylvania Super Set for ten years. He made service calls from his Lowell home in the evenings and weekends servicing TV sets and antennas. He worked for Lowell Community Cable System, installed towers and strung cables throughout Lowell. When technology changed, he replaced TV antennas with satellite dishes for the cable and rural customers. He was a member of American Legion Post 750 of Lowell and the VFW Post 5108 of Marietta. Surviving are his brother Dean (Sharon) of Sycamore Valley, Ohio, youngest son and guardian, William “Bill” (Missy) of Lowell, daughters Brenda (Mike) Rettke of Bloomington, IL and Cindy (George) Hollister of Comptche, CA, Sons Ralph of Lowell, and Steven (Rose) of Beverly. Grandchildren Natalie Weckbacher of Beverly, Mason Weckbacher of Lowell, ANG Paul Hollister of Mesa, AZ, Victor Hollister, RPF of Ukiah, CA, great-grandchild Annberlee Weckbacher of Beverly, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Dorothy, brothers Alton, Mark and Maynard, and sister, Laura Ayers, son-in-law, George Barker, granddaughter, Melissa Weckbacher, and great-granddaughter, Karmony Rain McAtee.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday (Jan. 15) at 2:00 pm at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home with military services, followed by cremation. Family will greet friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 2-4 and 6-8. Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.Lankfordfh.com. Burial to be scheduled at the convenience of the family, at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery near Graysville, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lowell- Adams Fire and Rescue in Wilbert’s memory.