William Reid Schilt

William Reid Schilt, age 79, of Punta Gorda, Florida, departed this life Wednesday, 29 Nov 2023 in Port Charlotte, Florida. Born 18 August 1944 in Cleveland, Ohio, the only child of the late William Burwell and Louise Ruby (Reid) Schilt, Bill is survived by his wife Janice Rullo Schilt, his daughter Jennifer (Mike) Smith of Spotsylvania, Virginia, and granddaughters Melia and Kiera Smith. Other survivors include stepchildren Daniel (Samantha) Allender, Laura Allender, Philip (Jessica) Rullo, Jr., Tammy (Mitch) Stonestreet, step grandchildren Olivia Allender, Racquel Rullo, Philip Rullo III, Alena Rullo, Kaylon Beck, MaKenzie Keneven, many in-laws, step-nieces, pet dogs and friends including life-long friend Bill Jacobson.

Bill graduated from Shaw High School, Cleveland, in 1962 and Ohio University in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and was a journalist for the U.S. Army’s Stars & Stripes while serving in Vietnam. He was president and CEO of a medical product company in Irvine, California. He served as past president of the Roosters Foundation, an Orange County, California nonprofit organization to support and feed children at risk, was an active member of the Marine Corps Devilpups Youth Program for America and was of the Presbyterian faith. His hobbies included golf, tennis, trivia, hiking & walking, swimming, listening to Doo-wop, and he was an avid fan of the Cleveland Browns, Ohio State football, Cleveland (Indians) Guardians and Anaheim Angels baseball teams. Memorials may be made to Devilpups on their website.