Richard G. Schimmel, 101, of Allentown, died Feb. 3, 2024, in Phoebe Nursing Home, Allentown.

His wife, Yolanda L. (Cocca) Schimmel, died May 20, 2010.

Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late John and Florence (Schneck) Schimmel.

One of the last Pearl Harbor survivors, serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he was a staff sergeant with the 581st Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion who set up the first radar that detected the Japanese planes and was the fifth person to know the Japanese were attacking.

He was a graduate of Allentown High School and Penn State College Business School.

In his civilian life, he was a devoted family man with a quick-witted sense of humor.

A salesman at the former Sears Roebuck and Co., Whitehall, for more than 30 years until his retirement, he was co-founder and past president of the Sears Retirees Club.

He was a devout Catholic and a member of The Cathedral Church of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown.

His survivors include sons Richard M. Schimmel and his wife, Judith, and Terence A. Schimmel and his fiancée, Rosemary B. Wetherhold; grandchildren Ryan Schimmel (Jennifer), Jill Sopa (Dren), Mark Schimmel and Jennifer Schimmel; and great-grandchildren Evan, Matthew and Drew Schimmel and Dardan Sopa.

He was predeceased by a grandson, Anthony M. Schimmel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org or Penn State Thon at thon.org.

Arrangements were made by Bachman, Kulik and Reinsmith Funeral Home, Allentown.