Ronald Jay Schrader

 It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Ronald Schrader of Geneva, Florida. Ron died at his home on January 4, 2025, after a 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 88 years old. Ron and his wife, Terry, have lived in their home, which they built with their own hands, for 48 years.

 Ron was born on April 5, 1936, in Lakeview, Ohio. He was the only son of Wilbur Schrader and Virginia Valley Schrader. He graduated from Fairview Park High School, Ohio, in June 1955. He attended the National Radio & TV School in Cleveland, Ohio. He worked as an installer for Ohio Bell Telephone and in March 1959 he moved to Florida and worked for RCA, Cape Canaveral as an electronics technician. During the years of September 1964 through August 1976 he was chief engineer for radio stations WXBR (later changed to WCKS) in Cocoa Beach, WKKO and WRKT in Cocoa, Florida. During this time from April 1966 through December 1973, he was the owner of Ron Sound Co., a sound system rental company and recording studio that he started. In August 1976 he began his career as a broadcast engineer at WCPX TV, Orlando, Florida, and later as the transmitter supervisor until his retirement. Ron also held a first-class radio telephone operator license (K4MMK) with ship radar endorsement.

 Ron also enjoyed riding motorcycles and had a total of 16 during his lifetime. He and his family enjoyed many hours riding all over Florida. Ron, Terry, and their daughter Steff took their 3 motorcycles on the Amtrak train to Lorton, Virginia, and rode them back to Florida, along the Shenandoah Skyway and the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2012. It was the last motorcycle trip Ron ever made. Ron also loved music of every kind and had the best sound system possible in his home and workshop. Ron loved to fly and earned his private pilot license, then went on to get his instrument and commercial ratings in both single and multiengine planes. He also got a rating for helicopters.

The most important part of his life was his family. He and Terry were married for 58 years. Ron is survived by Terry and their daughter Steffanie. He was preceded in death by 4 sons, Kevin, Timothy and William with his first wife, and Charles with Terry.

 A memorial service will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home in Winter Park on Friday, January 24th at 2pm. All are welcome.

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