Wilbert Carson Schollaert
With profound sadness we announce the passing of our dear father, Wilbert Carson Schollaert, Jr., on Monday, January 9, 2023 at 8:58 p.m., with his family holding his hands. His unwavering dedication to his religion provided peace to Dad and our family during this sad day for all of us.
Our Dad was born to Christina “Sally” and Wilbert “Yaya”, a coal miner, in the small town of Washington. After graduating from Washington High School, he enrolled at Penn State University. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Engineering and would go on to earn a Master’s Degree at Pace University in Management Administration in New York City. His time at Penn State would make him become the biggest Penn State fan ever known.
His love for his country would send him to Germany with the United States Army, as First Lieutenant, where he would be stationed in Germany at the Berlin Wall.
Dad worked his way up the corporate ladder at large corporations. At Colgate-Palmolive he worked as a Production Foreman and eventually the Director of College Recruitment. He would leave Colgate to accept a large promotion to Avon Products, Inc., in New York City, and become the Director of Manufacturing for North America and the Pacific Far-East. He moved his family to Franklin Lakes, New Jersey and commuted into NYC every day. Dad left Avon and moved his family to Phoenix, Arizona and started AWS, Inc., with his dear friend Dave Snell, contracting air conditioning and appliance sales and service. Many years later he would work for large corporations, such as Rinchem Corporation as Chief Operating Officer for Chemical Distribution; Hooleon Corporation as President and CEO for computer manufacturing; and Bionutrics, Inc., as Manufacturing Director.
Our dad loved to play piano, trumpet, and accordion.
Dad is predeceased by his wife, Carol; parents, Wilbert and Christina; his sister, Shirley Carl; and in-laws, Helen and George Gately.
He leaves behind three children: Kim Konrad (Mark), Amy Kelly and Mark (Anna). His memory will live on in his nine grandchildren, Lynn Laforge (Chris), Kate, John, Hannah, Ashley, Beau, Parker, Lulu and Archie, that brought him the most joy in his life.
Graveside services at Paradise Memorial Gardens, 9300 E. Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, Ariz., at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2023. A private interment is immediately following for the family as we say our final goodbye to our ‘Yaya’. His legacy will carry on forever reminding us that family means everything. Dad, we know you have been waiting to see Mom for 29 years… give her a hug from all of us and dance like you have never danced before.
As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to The Wally Kelly Foundation, www.thewallykellyfoundation.org), founded by his grandchildren, Ashley and Beau, and the desire to promote youth sports for underprivileged children.