Wilson Edward Weckel - W8AL

Wilson Edward Weckel Sr. front row, right, in front of the captain. Aboard S.S Juniata, ca. 1921. Photo furnished by Richard Weckel.

The Canton Radio Club now has his W8AL call letters.

My dad was Navy radioman during WWI, and later was a RO on the Lakes.

After his discharge he got a commercial license and shipped aboard the "Big Three" - S.S. JUNIATA, S.S. OCTARORA, S.S. TIONESTA. I believe this was in 1921, 22 and 23. My mother, a passenger, met him on a cruise about 1921; they were married in Duluth in 1922.

He also shipped on Horace Dodge's yacht DELPHINE, which, surprisingly enough, is still sailing in the Med as a charter yacht. She was also the WWII "flagship" of Admiral Ernie King, moored in the Potomac River all during the war.

He had command of the Naval Reserve unit here in Canton, Ohio between the wars. When WWII started he was physically handicapped and had to walk with two canes. ROs were as scarce as hen's teeth, so, in desperation, S.S. THEODORE ROOSEVELT signed him - on articles. She was an excursion steamer running from Cleveland to Cedar Point and on moonlight cruises. He was on the ROOSEVELT in 1944 and 1945. I sailed with him as an Ordinary in 1944 when I was fifteen.

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.