Harry Matthew Woehrle passed away at the age of 91 in his home on April 4, 2019.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Carol Horning Woehrle.
Harry was born on October 6, 1927, in Hoboken, NJ, to the late Christian Matthew and Frieda Neis Woehrle. A sister, Helen Ursula Woehrle, preceded him in death. He served in the US Army from 1945-47, and was stationed in the Philippines.
Harry was an executive in the printing industry for 30 years until losing his eyesight in 1980 to retinitis pigmentosa. Rather than dwell on his diagnosis and the inevitable blindness that comes with it, he turned his diagnosis into a passion for helping the medical world with the research and advancement to combat this disease. He was an eager and necessary participant in the work that has been done to help future generations.
Together he and Carol volunteered in the community, serving for many years with Widowed Persons Service, an AARP organization, out of Sibley Memorial Hospital. They traveled the world extensively, (including a hot-air ballooning trip in France), enjoyed fine food in meals that inevitably ended with the chocolate that was his favorites since childhood. Harry and Carol enjoyed spending time at the beaches of Delaware and the Caribbean, and hosted countless family celebrations for their collective large family of adult children, their spouses, grandchildren, their spouses, and great-grandchildren. Harry’s most treasured holiday was Christmas.
His 90th birthday celebration, held in October 2017 at the University Club in Washington, was filled with more than 100 family members and friends dating back to his days in high school. Harry loved a good party.
As a young man he was active, swimming and playing golf, and he skied later in life with Ski for Light, which provides visually and mobility-impaired persons the opportunity to cross-country ski. A hometown sports fan, he followed the Nationals and Redskins. He was most recently active with Foundry United Methodist Church.
In addition to Carol, Harry is survived by six children: Helen Woehrle Lentz (Frank) of Charlotte, NC; Robert Christian Woehrle (Marianne) of Alexandria, VA; Lori Woehrle (Paul Page) of Washington, DC; Steven Matthew Woehrle (Monica) of Rockville, MD; Richard Martin Woehrle (Jonathan Gerhardt) of New Orleans. LA; and William Michael Woehrle of Fairfax, VA.
He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Adam Christopher Lentz (Erin) of Charlotte, NC; SGT Robert Christian Woehrle Jr., Ret., (Jennifer) of Albuquerque, NM; Julianne Woehrle of Alexandria, VA; James Edwin Woehrle of Fairfax, VA; William Zachary Woehrle of Falls Church, VA; Hannah DeSales Woehrle of Rockville, MD; Benjamin Andreas Page of Washington, DC; Seth Michael Woehrle of Falls Church, VA; Samuel Martin Hall Page of Washington, DC; and Spencer Steven Matthew Woehrle of Rockville, MD.
And two great-grandchildren: Greyson Lentz and Harper Lentz, both of Charlotte, NC.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, April 9, at 11:30 am at Joseph Gawler’s Sons, 5130 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC, followed by a 1:00 pm internment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for gifts in his memory to Foundation Fighting Blindness.
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