Dr. Karl Louis Klinar

Dr. Karl Louis Klinar passed away on March 30, 2020. He was born on June 20,1931, in Johnstown, PA. He is a graduate of Ferndale High School, Class of 1950. Karl received a full football scholarship to attend the Virginia Military Institute, graduating in 1954. He had many accomplishments as a Keydet, the most notable being his induction, in 1999, to The VMI Sports Hall of Fame for basketball.

Karl graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry in 1958. Upon graduation, he served in the US Army for 21 years, retiring as a Colonel. While in the army he served in Viet Nam, established a Dental General Practice Residency at Fort Jackson, and served as the Consulting Oral Surgeon for the Western European Theater for the Department of Defense.

For over fifteen years, he had a private practice in Oral Surgery in the St. Andrews area, near Columbia, SC, after his retirement from the Army. He was well-respected by his patients. His legacy continues with their stories, which are still shared with his family members.

Dr. Klinar was predeceased by sons Patrick and Daniel, and his sister, Julia. Karl is survived by his cherished wife of 62 years, Helen, sons Karl Stephen (Kristina), Michael, Jeffrey (Mary Beth), and daughter Kathleen, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was a master cabinet and furniture maker, creating heirloom-quality pieces for himself and his children. His other hobbies included, gardening, often growing flowers for his wife’s Ikebana-style flower arrangements, and baking. Pies and Potica were his specialties.

Karl helped to organize and participate in holiday office parties and neighborhood block parties that are well-remembered by friends, neighbors, and co-workers, who were lucky enough to attend. He often traveled to Johnstown and VMI to visit with extended family and friends. He had a large personality that could be intimidating, however, if you took the time to get to know him, he was a kind man with a great sense of humor, which he passed onto his children.

Most recently, he was a member of Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church.

Due to the current Corona virus situation, funeral arrangements will be announced by Dunbar Funeral Home www.DunbarFunerals.com when details become available.