Ronald Francis August, Sr.

Ronald Francis August, Sr., age 76, of Wilmington, DE, passed away on November 13, 2017 at St. Francis Hospital.

Ron began his career serving his electrical apprenticeship with Bartley Electric in Wilmington. He learned how to rebuild, strip and rewind motors, motor controls, troubleshooting, pole climbing and performed electric service work for industrial customers. After six years, Ron went to work for Doeskin Paper Mill in Rockland as their chief electrician.

When the Mill closed down after six years, Ron went to work for General Motors as a maintenance electrician. He worked on welding robots and eventually was heavily involved in the conversion from the electrohydraulic welding robots (Unimate) to the new servo driven GMF welding robots. He spent six months travelling back and fourth to Canada every week with a core group of fellow electricians working with Allen Bradley, preparing for the conversion. They all worked together helping to reshape the way welding robotics and production automation at GM was performed at the Boxwood Road Plant. Ron was proud to have been a part of that ground-breaking work and spoke of it often.

Ron retired from GM after 25 years of dedicated service and then went to work for American Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) in Avondale, PA. He was sent to several schools and thought the Laser certification school in Florida was the most interesting. AMT was a precision machine shop and production facility that produced high quality components built to tight tolerances that were used by doctors in the operating room. Ron maintained and repaired the precision machinery used at the facility where all of his work and records were inspected by the FDA.

Ron had a fantastic and interesting career and was a very hard worker who always tried to do his best. He instilled his work ethic in his sons and tried to inspire the people around him to do the same as well. Ron loved his family. He taught his sons to hunt and fish and spent many years at the beach. He had several boats over the years and enjoyed boating with his sons and grandchildren as well.

He is predeceased by his parents Bernard J and Catherine M, a sister Doris DelleDonne, brothers in law Joseph DelleDonne and Joseph Lange. He will be dearly missed and is survived  by his wife Jeanette, sons; Ron (Angela) , and Bob (Lisa), grandchildren Amanda, Ron III, Katie, Hayley and Kaitlyn, his brother Bernard J (Judy) of Jacksonville Florida and sister in law Linda Lange and a host of nieces and nephews

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at St Francis Hospital, ICU unit.

Friends and family may visit from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Monday November 20, 2017 at CHANDLER FUNERAL HOME, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:00 am on Tuesday morning at Holy Rosary Church, 3200 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont followed by interment at All Saints Cemetery, Wilmington.