PORTLAND – Richard Sheldon Wilner, 76, of Gorham, passed away unexpectedly April 29, at Maine Medical Center.

He was born May 5, 1930, in Stoneham, Mass., to Joseph Wilner and Ida Traister Wilner.

He graduated from Edward Little High School in 1948, where he played football and was on the swim team.

He graduated from the University of Maine in Orono in 1952, and then joined the U.S. Army. He served and was wounded in the Korean War.

After he returned from Korea, he joined the family business, Wilner Wood Products. He served as president of the company until his retirement in 1990. After his retirement, he worked for Nordic Track selling fitness equipment and was a volunteer with the Service Corps Of Retired Executives (S.C.O.R.E.).

He enjoyed tennis and golf, and was an avid walker, who was often seen around town with his chocolate labs.

He is survived by his children, Paul and Eileen Wilner, Jonathan and Jayne Wilner, Charles Wilner, Beth and John Vallee, Susan Kaplan Schindelman, and Eric Kaplan; his grandchildren, Jeni and Jared Cash, Ernest and Jessica Fitts, Stephen Wilner, Chadd Wilner, Emily Wilner, and Samuel Vallee; his great grandchildren, Conner Fitts, and Carlee-Mae Cash; and his former wife, Malca; brothers and sisters, Burton Wilner, Eleanor Wilner Goldblatt, June Wilner Chason, Stanley Wilner, and Ruth Wilner Schloss.

He was predeceased by his wife, Carol Kaplan Wilner; his brother, Charles P. Wilner; and his sister, Avis Wilner Schwartz.