Herman "Keith" Wohlford

Keith was born on January 22,1940 in Hempstead, Texas, the only child of Preston Herman Wohlford and Argie Pauline Finch Wohlford. Even though he was an only child, Keith grew up with a cousin close to his age, Gary Al, who was like a brother to him. Keith attended high school at Hull-Daisetta where he graduated near the top of his class of 19. He learned to play nearly every band instrument as his dad, who taught Chemistry and Physics, often took on the role of band instructor. Keith also played numerous high school varsity sports and enjoyed his shop classes.

Keith started his college venture at Texas A&M University but later moved to Lamar State College of Technology in Beaumont, Texas. He spent two years during college in the US Army stationed in Germany where he did calculations and was a sharpshooter. He said he was there just long enough to learn to speak some broken German, enough to order a beer, before returning to Lamar where he played tennis and graduated with an Industrial Engineering degree.

After Keith graduated from college he left to work for General Box Company in Mississippi. After five years he moved back to Texas to work for Champion Papers and later, American Pole Structures. Later in his career Keith was a residential and commercial real estate appraiser.

As a young adult Keith frequented the Southwest YMCA in the Bellaire area to play competitive volleyball. In this gymnasium is where he met the love of his life, Juliann, who was in a teacher’s volleyball league. They started dating and within a few months he asked her if she would be interested in marriage. They were married in April 1971 and were married for more than 53 years. They purchased a home in the City of Bellaire and raised their two children, Audrey and Ben.

Keith was quite active in Bellaire city politics, serving on the city council for four years and later attending council meetings to have his voice and ideas heard. He was always active in the activities that Bellaire offered whether that was country and western dance lessons, attending church services at the Bellaire United Methodist Church, or playing co-ed softball on the Sunday Night Stars with Juliann. Once Audrey and Ben started playing sports, he could be found throwing the ball in the yard or attending their little league or high school games.

Besides being a devoted father and husband, Keith was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to go to the family’s properties where he taught his kids, and later his granddaughters, to shoot. Keith also loved his trips to Rockport, Texas where he and Juliann had a cabin for many years. He enjoyed his fishing trips on the ski barge where he was quite the fishing guide, always making sure everyone was baited up. He was so proud of both of his yards he maintained: mowing, weeding, fixing birdhouses or talking to neighbors, he always enjoyed his time in the yard, especially the visiting with the neighbors part.

Keith is survived by his wife, Juliann Gubbels Wohlford, his daughter Audrey (Matthew) Adams of Houston, Texas and his son, Benjamin Wohlford of Bellaire, Texas, and five granddaughters Ashley Adams, Farrah Wohlford, Lyla Wohlford, Megan Adams and Georgia Wohlford.

A funeral service to celebrate Keith’s life will be held at Bellaire United Methodist Church, 4417 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire, TX 77401 on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 2pm with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Bellaire United Methodist Church.