William (Bill) Kohler

William (Bill) Kohler was born on August 6, 1933, to William and Martha (Fortune) Kohler in Mineola, New York. Bill attended Chaminade High School in Mineola and went on to Villanova University in Pennsylvania where he met many of his lifelong friends. After graduating Villanova in 1955, he entered Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island where he obtained the rank of Lieutenant J.G.

On June 1, 1957, he and Sheila married at St. Joseph’s Church in Garden City, New York where they resided for many years.

Bill spent the majority of his career at the JC Penney Company in New York and in 1988 relocated to Dallas with the company, retiring in 1993 after 30 years.  Upon retirement, Bill and Sheila became avid golfers and were members of the Eldorado Country Club for many years.

Bill enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his family and friends.  Known for his quick wit and great sense of humor, Bill and Sheila traveled the world with their many friends. Every Friday, Bill and Sheila would meet with their Friday dinner crowd, a tradition that began in New York and continued when the relocated to Dallas. Many laughs and memories were shared during these long dinners.

Family reunions were very important and a memorable one was held in the Great Smokey Mountains in July of 2013 to celebrate Bill’s 80 ^th birthday.  All members of the Kohler clan were able to attend, and it was one of the highlights of all our lives.

Always a twinkle in his eye and a head of curly hair, Bill lived a full life always treating people with kindness. His memory will live on through the many stories and anecdotes his wife, children and grandchildren will share.

Bill was a devoted husband to Sheila (McLoughlin) for 66 years. Beloved father to Elizabeth (Reynolds), William, Carolyn (Flaherty) Jennifer (Jones) Kathleen (Kennedy) and Julie (Hocker) and 16 grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be held on Monday, March 27 at 11:00 am All Saints Catholic Church, 5231 Meadowcreek Drive, Dallas, Texas. Burial will be at a later date at Holy Rood Cemetery in New York.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org or Operation Kindness at https://support.operationkindness.org/