George Albert Wilhelm

George Albert Wilhelm passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 10th, 2023, at Alura Assisted Living Facility in Rockledge, Florida. He was 92.

He is survived by his twin sister Barbara/Bobbie and younger brother Jack. He is also survived by his four sons Mark Karl (wife Ellen), Kurt Hans (wife Holly), Erik Paul (wife Cynthia) as well as his stepson Robert Bruce Mercer. George has five grandsons, Joseph H, (Kurt), Brian M and Troy A (Mark), Michael Carpenter (Erik) and James A Petrill (Kurt's wife Holly). George also has three great grandchildren born to Joseph, they are Hunter L, Landon J and Aubrey Rose who happens to be the first Wilhelm girl born to the family in eighty years.

George Albert Wilhelm was born October 11, 1930, along with his twin sister Barbara "Bobbie" to Harry and Anna Wilhelm in Camden, NJ. George had four other siblings besides his twin sister. Dorothy, Irene, Henry and younger brother Richard "Jack". George graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1948 and enlisted in the Air Force in 1951. He fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars and also spent a year in Thule Greenland which also coincided with the birth of his youngest son Erik, who was 10 months old when they had their first meeting. There was no Skype in 1960. George met his first wife Nancy through his twin sister as the two ladies were both nurses in training at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. They were married in 1955. During their 32 years of marriage, they had three sons, Mark, Kurt and Erik. The family lived in several places around the country before George retired from the Air Force in 1971, after 20 years of service to his country. He and the family settled in Rockledge, FL. Nancy passed in 1987 at the age of 56. George married a family friend, Pauline Mercer in 1988. They were married for 29 years. Pauline passed in 2017. George remained in his home in Levitt Park in Rockledge that he bought when he retired until recently when he moved to Alura, December 1st, 2021.

George had several callings during his lifetime the first being a member of the Masonic Lodge, singing in the church choir and donating blood. George gave 55 GALLONS of blood during his lifetime. Many people can give thanks for his generosity. George joined the Masons June 10th, 1964, which coincidentally was also the date he passed in 2023 after being a Mason for 59 years. He became a member of Newburgh Lodge #309 in Newburgh NY while stationed at Stewart AFB. He was elevated to the Scottish Rite/33rd degree Mason April 24, 1965. He transferred his NY lodge membership to Brevard Lodge #113 in Cocoa, FL in 1980. George was a faithful member of the lodge where he held several offices including Chaplain and was made an Honorary Past Master in October 2013. He was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star (as were Nancy and Pauline) Chapter #35 located at 40 Carmalt Street in Cocoa, FL.

George's Memorial Service will be held at the Masonic Lodge, 40 Carmalt Street in Cocoa, FL on June 24th, 2023, at 10 am. A Veterans Memorial Service will be held at a later date. There will be no funeral as George wished to be cremated when he passed. His cremation was performed by Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home in Merritt Island, FL.