William BOHN Obituary

NEWPORT NEWS - Colonel William Bohn (retired), passed away on Oct. 25, 2010.
He was born June 25, 1920, in Ambridge, Pa. He became a resident of Newport News and a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in 1971.
Bill graduated from Edinboro State College with a Bachelor of Science in April 1942 and was drafted immediately. After a few enlisted years, he attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Va. Upon receiving his commission, he married Ruth Hotchkiss, who attended grade school, high school and college with him.
Bill's additional educational pursuits included a Masters Degree in Science Education from Columbia University Teachers College and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Syracuse University.
Bill's military career in the Army Corps of Engineers was extensive with WWII participation in the New Guinea and Philippine campaigns and occupation of Japan. He served twice in Vietnam as a Field Advisor (1955-56) and as a senior officer to supervise, monitor and control engineering activities in IV Corps (1970). In Germany, he commanded the 20th and 547th Engineer Battalions. Other important assignments included ROTC assignments at Notre Dame University and Professor of Military Science at the University of Ohio. His final assignment before military retirement in 1973 was at Fort Eustis as the Director of Engineers and Housing.
He continued to work in civilian life with general contractors, who developed the expansion of the North Yard of the shipyard, the Williamsburg Anheuser Plant and Virginia Electric Power (Dominion) Station at Yorktown.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth, of 67 years; two sons, William H. Bohn of Stanardsville, Va., and Randy Bohn of Barhamsville, Va.; one daughter, Suzanne Baird of Fredericktown, Ohio; one sister, Margaret Ward of Clear Lake, Calif.; four granddaughters; two grandsons; and three great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010, at Peninsula Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be conducted 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2010, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, with the burial following in Peninsula Memorial Park.
Peninsula Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.

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Published by Daily Press from Oct. 27 to Oct. 28, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for William BOHN

4 Entries

Karen Hornstein

October 28, 2010

I first meet Bill and Ruth Bohn in August 1972 when I arrived at Ft. Eustis. They both greeted us with kindness, warmth and beautiful smiles. Bill and Ruth became our dear friends. Bill always had a big smile, a gentle nature,a kind and caring heart. He was always a good listener. I am thankful Bill's presence touched my life.

October 28, 2010

I am a nurse at the Newport. As I washed his face with a cold washcloth and cleaned his mouth with swabs and prayed over him that morning,I saw gentleness and kindness in his eyes and I felt the presence of God with him waiting to take him home.

Yvonne Dixon

October 27, 2010

Bill was one of the kindest people I have ever met. He always had a smile even if he wasn't feeling his best. The love and affection that you two had for each other was easily seen by all just by watching how you looked at each other. I am truly sorry for your loss.

Connie Walker nee Bennett

October 27, 2010

Dear Ruth and family, When Mom (Dorothy) called last night, I began to remember your visits to Conneaut to see Aunt Lene and my grandma and grandpa. Mom always made sure we came over because she absolutely had to see you all. I always enjoyed those visits and felt a bit bereft when you left, knowing that I had just gotten acquainted once again and now you would be off once more to exciting places. (I still have a metal tin that came from Nurnberg full of cookies for Aunt Lene. I begged her for it because it was so interesting and had come from such an exotic place!) I remember Bill as being such a gracious and kind man. I have always held a high opinion of the men and women who serve our country, and I truly believe this opinion is rooted in my first experience of knowing Bill and what kind of person he was. I am sorry for your loss, but I am so glad that you were blessed with him as husband and father. May God surround you with loving family and friends at this time. May you find comfort in sharing with each other the memories of a life well-lived.

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