William Milton Koehler passed away on April 3, 2009. He was born on July 8, 1925, to William Frank Koehler and Julia Hrncir Koehler of Moravia, Texas. After graduating from Schulenberg High School at the age of fifteen, he worked briefly in Houston before attending Texas A&M University. His studies were interrupted by World War II, when he was drafted into the Navy and spent time in Guam as a radio/radar technician in Fleet Air Photo Group Two. Upon his discharge, he returned to Texas A&M and graduated with the class of '46 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He joined Humble Oil and Refining Company, now Exxon-Mobil, and retired in 1985 after 38 years. His profession led him into many interesting careers and he spent time traveling around the world conducting training sessions while on assignment to Esso Production Research. These included programs in Libya, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Colombia, and Indonesia. He was a registered Professional Engineer in Texas and California and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, of which he was Chairman of the Houston chapter while living in Houston. While working for Humble on the King Ranch, Bill married Ruth Hardt, a longtime friend, on October 24, 1952. They were transferred to Houston, where they raised their two sons, William Alan Koehler and James Brian Koehler. After retiring to Austin in 1985, Bill and Ruth enjoyed many years of hobbies, including travel, astronomy, and genealogy. They visited the remaining five of the fifty States and traveled to China, Bahrain, and England. During this time, they became interested in genealogy and joined the Austin Genealogical Society. For many years, Bill was Editor of the AGS Quarterly. In 1992, they published a book entitled Henry Christian Hardt, a Genealogy: 1639-1992 on Ruth's paternal grandfather who came to the Republic of Texas with his father at the age of eighteen. The book was awarded a prize by the Texas State Genealogical Society. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Gladys Hrncir and Helen Marie Schornack and husband E.W. Schornack. He is survived by his loving wife, Ruth, two sons, William A. Koehler of Batavia, Illlinois and James Brian Koehler, of Pflugerville, Texas, and one niece, Carol Schornack Moore and husband Robert Moore of Bulverde, Texas, and many nieces and nephews. The family expresses deep gratitude to Dr. Gwendolyn B. Miller, Dr. John Sandbach and the staff at Texas Oncology, and Hospice Austin. Visitation will be at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home in Austin at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, followed by a memorial service at the Weed-Corley-Fish chapel at 2:00 p.m., with Rev. Bill Henderson officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Austin Memorial Park. Memorials can be made to Texas A&M University, Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, or Hospice Austin.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18