Bill Koran

A resident of Houston, Texas for nearly 50 years, Mr. Koran was born on January 15th, 1922 in Youngstown, Ohio to John and Elizabeth Koran. He grew up in Youngstown and attended Wooster College for two years before enlisting in the Air Force. Mr. Koran served in the United States 8th Air Force during World War II as a navigator aboard the B-17 ”Flying Fortress.” He flew 30 missions over occupied Europe and was awarded numerous medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He then returned to Ohio to complete his education at the Ohio State University. There he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geology and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Mr. Koran was employed as a geophysicist with Texaco for most of his career. He greatly enjoyed working in Venezuela for Texaco for over 13 years before moving to Houston. He met his beloved wife Doris in 1956 when they both were vacationing in Puerto Rico. They celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on April 20th, 2012.

Mr. Koran has been an active member of Memorial Drive Lutheran Church. He will be remembered for his kindness, honesty, faith in the Lord, and devotion to family. He showed by example what a loving husband, father and grandfather should be. He was a role model to all and always put others before himself. He devoted an extraordinary amount of his time and energy as caregiver to his wife. His many interests included family, sports and reading.

Mr. Koran was preceded in death by his parents John and Elizabeth Koran, and his sister Ethel Castrucci.

Mr. Koran is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Doris, his two sons William and David Koran, his daughter Deborah (and Dan) Robbins, his three grandchildren, Emily, Claire and Daniel William Robbins, his brother Elmer Koran, and his sister Louise Kinn.

Funeral services will be held at Memorial Drive Lutheran Church on Thursday, February 7th at 11:00am. There will be a reception at the church after the services. A private interment will be held at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or to Memorial Drive Lutheran Church, 12211 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024.