Dr. William T. "Bill" Wickham

Dr. William T. “Bill” Wickham, 95, of Tiffin, died May 25, 2025. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane (Brundage) Wickham and is survived by daughters Susan Jane (Terry) Walker in Lakewood, Ohio, Mary Ellen (Benjamin) Lemberg in Oxford, N.C., and son William Paul (Kamala) Wickham in Charlotte, N.C. He is also survived by grandchildren: in North Carolina, Jacob Lemberg, Elizabeth White, and Leah Welsh; W. John Wickham in Texas and Brittany Konsella in Colorado. 

Dr. Wickham was born in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from high school in Hamilton, Ohio and graduated from Heidelberg University, obtaining a bachelor’s degree. He subsequently earned masters and doctorates in polymer-related fields at the Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve University), in Cleveland. Dr. Wickham was taken into the Society of Sigma Xi, a national research honorary. He earned additional graduate credit in project management from New York University.

Dr. Wickham entered into a successful career with several of the largest companies in the plastics and rubber industries, holding a number of management positions, including serving as Vice President of R&D of the Dayco Corporation (formerly known as Dayton Tire). He also was a consultant to several large corporations. He had remained an active alumnus of Heidelberg throughout his industrial career. In 1977 he was serving as president of Heidelberg’s alumni organization, when Heidelberg invited him to return to Tiffin and join the faculty in order to start and manage the newly formed academic department that is now known as the Heidelberg School of Business. He retired from that position in 1999.

Dr. Wickham was active in the Tiffin community, serving as president of the Tiffin-Seneca County Chamber of Commerce and Tiffin Rotary. He served on a number of community boards, including SIEDC, First Ohio Credit Union, and advisory boards for Heidelberg, the Saint Francis organization, and the City of Tiffin. He was also an active member of Tiffin’s Trinity United Church of Christ.

Dr. Wickham was preceded in death by his sister Mary Ellen Schaff, parents Terry and Rebecca Wickham, and his wife Jane.

Bill was known for his sense of humor as well as his business sense. He and Heidelberg colleagues liked to bet on which day a campus gingko tree would lose its leaves each year. He enjoyed being a part of the Berg Buyers investment club for many years, and being in the Tiffin Rotary Club. Bill loved spending time with family and friends, including Jane’s extended family the Brundages. Those close to Bill will miss him greatly.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Bill on Friday, June 13, 2025 at 3:00 pm at Trinity United Church of Christ. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Heidelberg University.

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