Robert G. Van Wingerden 1932-2021

Born June 13, 1932, in Youngstown, the son of Rev. George and Emma Lou Van Wingerden, Bob’s early years, and his schooling through 11th grade, was in Cortland. He graduated from Girard High School in Girard. During the Korean War, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as a control tower operator at the Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany. Following discharge, he met the lovely Shirley Faye Lambert; they were married in April 1959. She remained his devoted and loving wife until his death, a span of over 62 years. They were blessed with the birth of a son, Robert Douglas in 1966, and a grandson, Cooper, in 2007.

Bob received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in Flint, Mich., a Master of Science degree in engineering administration from Case Institute of Technology (now Case-Western Reserve University) in Cleveland, and attended the Stanford University executive program. His career spanned 33 years with Packard Electric Division of General Motors Corporation in Warren, and included many diverse positions including director of industrial engineering, director of materials management, director of reliability and quality control, acting chief engineer, and general sales manager. The latter position included responsibility for leading the initial effort to grow internationally through acquisitions and joint ventures. In 1997, he was inducted into the Packard Electric Hall of Fame, in recognition of his successful efforts in the globalization initiative.

In retirement, he became affiliated with the International Executive Service Corps (IESC), and under their sponsorship, had numerous extended consulting assignments with manufacturing enterprises in Russia, the Republic of Georgia and Thailand. On all of those assignments, he was accompanied by his wife, Shirley, who served as an informal “goodwill ambassador,” who frequently visited schools and met with teachers and students, many of whom had never met an American citizen.

In 1978 to 1982, he was a member and one-term president of the Howland School Board in Warren. He was chairman of three church boards: First Christian Church of Girard, where his father was a pastor; Howland Community Church in Warren; and the United Methodist Church in Swansboro, N.C. During his later years, he was a member of the United Methodist Church in John’s Creek, Ga.

An avid pilot, he owned several airplanes and enjoyed extensive travel in North America, with Shirley serving as co-pilot. In 1997, he was president of the Sportsman Pilot’s Association, the world’s oldest private flying club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Margaret Ann Patterson of Worthington.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Shirley; his son, Douglas and wife, Nikki of Suwanee, Ga.; and grandson, Cooper.

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