Ronald Lee Wilhelm, 57, of 211 Hilliards Road, Petrolia, died at 1:03 a.m. Sunday at Butler Memorial Hospital after a six-week illness.

Born in New Kensington, Dec. 23, 1947, he was the son of Howard Kenneth and Helen Agnes Guthknecht Wilhelm.

A graduate of Highlands High School, he served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and was a machinist at Joy Technology International of Franklin for 11 years.

Mr. Wilhelm was a member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Cabot. He also belonged to the F&AM Lodge 576 and the New Castle Consistory.

He is survived by his wife, Lisa N. Maxwell Wilhelm, whom he married July 13, 1974; three children, Alexis Ann Sutton of Hopwood, Fayette County, Ronald Lee Wilhelm Jr. of Chicora and Robert James Wilhelm of Butler.

A brother preceded him in death.

WILHELM - Friends of Ronald Lee Wilhelm, who died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday atCUNNINGHAM FUNERAL HOME, 306 Bessemer Ave., Grove City. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. James Seeley, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Grove City, officiating. Cremation will follow.Memorial donations may be made to the family in care of the funeral home or to the family home.