Ronald Stanley Geiler

Ron Geiler, of Onondaga Hill, joined his wife, Irene on Friday, August 5, 2011. He passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was a husband, father, grandfather, friend and an aviator in his 84 years. Born in Champaign, Illinois, on Wednesday, January 19, 1927 to Frederick William Geiler and Emma Bez Geiler, Ron lived through the Great Depression. While he was working at the local ice skating rink on December 7, 1941, he made the announcement of the attack on Pearl Harbor. After high school he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and reported to boot camp in June, 1945. With World War II ending in August, he was mustered, entered the reserves and was stationed in Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada, where he met his wife. At Harmon Field, Ron escorted Charles Lindbergh and showed him how the early radar systems worked. Ron attended the University of Illinois in Champaign and played hockey. He later taught all of his children to ice skate and snow ski. While at college he learned to fly, which would be a lifelong passion and he received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He started his career as a radar operator and researcher at Control Systems Labs and later the Syracuse University Research Corp. Ron continued serving in the Air National Guard and was called to active duty again in 1961-62, during the Berlin Crisis, and took the family to Germany. He retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. With radar research ending in the 1970s, Ron used his flying experience to become an airline pilot. He worked for Catskill Airways, Empire Airlines and later Piedmont Airlines as a captain on the Fokker F-28, retiring in 1986. He also used his skills to become the DC-3 check airman as the FAA designated examiner in that type. He flew for the National Warplane Museum in both the R4D (DC-3) and the B-17 Flying Fortress, “Fuddy Duddy.” He was known to many in the CNY aviation community as he was a certified flight instructor and taught many people to fly. He was an FAA designated examiner for private pilots. He participated in the first civilian friendship flight from the USA to the USSR via Alaska. He was a member of the Syracuse Hangar, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in Marcellus, and the Retired Officers Club. He was awarded the prestigious Master Pilot award in May 2005. Ron’s interests outside of flying and ice skating included flying glider airplanes, model trains, fishing, golf, bridge, boating and the Boy Scouts. Ron was predeceased by his wife of 35 years, the former Irene Wills Butt, on August 17, 1983.. Surviving are his daughter, Elizabeth Geiler of Boston, Massachusetts; sons and daughters-in-law, Ronald C. and Gina of Syracuse, Robert of San Diego, California, Jon and Cheryl of Chittenango, Peter and Janie of San Francisco, California, and David and Micki of Syracuse; 10 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends may call Monday, August 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus. Services will be Tuesday, August 9 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with The Very Rev. Craig R. Swan from St. Luke's Episcopal Church officiating. Ron will be laid to rest in White Chapel Memory Gardens, DeWitt. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, c/o Upstate Medical University Foundation, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse, NY 13210 or to the American Cancer Society, 6725 Lyons St., P.O. Box 7, E. Syracuse, NY 13057.