Walter Mcilwain

Walter Ronald McIlwain, age 77 of Tuscaloosa, passed away on February 11, 2021 at his home surrounded by his wife and children after a 7 year battle with multiple myeloma. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 11:30 am at Calvary Baptist Church with Dr. James Sexton officiating and Magnolia Chapel North directing.

He is preceded in death by his parents; Walter P. and Annie Pearl McIlwain, brother; Lavon McIlwain (Bett), sister; Annie Kimbrell (Salty), and Jean Carlisle, and his niece Lori Kimbrell.

He is survived by his wife Sharon Comer McIlwain, daughters; Amy Leigh McIlwain (David Yoke) of Atlanta, GA., Jennifer McIlwain Sanderson (Barry) of Tuscaloosa, AL., son; Joshua Alan McIlwain (Logan) of Franklin, TN., grandchildren; Caroline Sanderson Clawson (States), of Atlanta, GA., William Blake Sanderson, Logan Colley Harris, Robert Jackson Sanderson, Walter Comer Harris, McIlwain (Mac) Winfrey Sanderson all of Tuscaloosa, AL. , Barrett Townes McIlwain and Stella Claire McIlwain of Franklin, TN., brother-in-law; John Martin Comer, Jr. of Birmingham, eight nieces and three nephews.

Ron was born and raised in Chickasaw, Alabama, where he graduated from Vigor High School. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. and served 4 years, both stateside and abroad. Upon completion of his service, he pursued his undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama and then continued his education at the University of Alabama Birmingham, where he received his D.M.D. and completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

He married in 1970 and they moved to Tuscaloosa, where he founded University Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 1975.A career spanning 42 years, he selflessly served the medical community, not only of Tuscaloosa, but of rural communities in Brazil, China and Honduras through mission trips. He loved his work, his practice and most of all, his patients, until his retirement in 2017.

He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon. He loved dinner with friends, Alabama sports, golf, travel and his beloved Golden Retriever, Shadow. He was a wonderful provider, a loving husband of 50 years, a supportive dad, and a doting grand-dad. He was many things to many people and he will be greatly missed.

Honorary pallbearers will be George Nunn, Mike Lovejoy, Joe Wallace, the "Caddyshack" group, the staff of UOFS, the nurses of Lewis and Faye Manderson Cancer Center, and Dr. Terry Carlson.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center Myeloma Research at. gifts.mdanderson.org or
Dr. Robert Orlowski
MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd
Unit 429
Houston, TX 77030