William Frank Schultz

William (Bill) Schultz, former Laurel Oak resident died on Thursday, November 10th in Sarasota. Born on 12/31/31 in Cleveland, Ohio he was 90 years old. Bill is the father of residents & members Linda Dooley and son-in-law Dwight Dooley.

He is survived by Linda’s stepmother Mary Schultz of Sarasota, brother Gene Schultz of Mentor, Ohio, daughters Linda (Schultz) Dooley & Kim Wilcox. He was proud grandpa to granddaughters Leslie (Tony) Swart, Ashley (Michael) DePappa , Jennifer (Broc) Fernandez & Andra Motsinger. He leaves behind great -grandchildren Austin & Brittany Swart, Cruz, Briggs & Rory Fernandez, Ansley, Audrey & Weston DePappa. He loved the water, boating, fishing & golf.

Bill started his career as a test engineer in Cleveland at Curtiss Wright Corp. He became product engineer and instrumental in designing the automatic “Co-pilot” which today is commonly called the “cruise control”. Linda remembers many days as a young girl sitting on the console & riding on the black box testing out the Co-pilot.

After a vacation to Sarasota in 1962, Bill moved his family and joined the Hollywood Fire Dept. On 10/31/63 he joined the Sarasota Fire Dept where he would spend the next 24 years before retiring on 12/31/86. Bill was promoted often & became “Deputy Chief” in 1979. Chief Schultz was commissioned by the Secretary of State in ’71 as Member of the Fire Fighters Standard Council.

A celebration will be held on 12/31/22 with a Fire Dept Honor Guard. Donations made be made to the Retired City Firefighters’ Assn, 4411 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, Fl 34233.