Carl Edward Wilham

Carl E. Wilham was born on November 9, 1932 in Shelby City, KY to Calvin C. Wilham, Sr., and Artie B. (Lear) Wilham.  After graduating from Burgin (Kentucky) High School in 1950, Carl entered the U. S. Air Force.  Not long after successfuly completing Airborne Communucation and Navigation Equipment Repairman school, he was transfered overseas to Yokota Air Base Japan and  assigned to a B-29 bomber squadron in support of the Korean War.  

Carl’s young life was forever changed while experiencing the various emotions of war on a daily basis.  When his tour was up, Carl remained in the Air Force for a total of ten years, being stationed in various locations around the United States.  While stationed  in Florida, he met and married his wife, Ruth in November, 1956 and they had their only child, David, in November, 1958.  Carl worked on various aircraft to include the A-26, B-29, B-36, B-47, B-57, and F-84.

 

  In 1960, he separated from the Air Force to pursue a Civil Service career with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an Electronic Technician and later as a Electronics Facilities Supervisor at Miami International Airport where he retired in the mid 1980s.  

 

  Carl had many accomplisments in his life, but his greatest personal acheivement was graduating Kum Laude from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Management.  This was earned solely while working shift work as an FAA Electronics Technician and launched his career into FAA senior management. 

 

  Carl was a loving husband and father.  He was a European traveler, voracious reader, and poetry lover.  There were very few challenges he wouldn’t take on, both as a family man and at work.  He was extremely proud of his deep rooted Kentucky heritage and lived his life dynamically with a type of modern pioneering spirit not seen much anymore.  

 

  Carl is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth E. (Hicken) Wilham; his son, David K. Wilham; his daughter-in-law,  Diane C. Gardner-Wilham; and a granddaughter, Kirsten R. Wilham.