William Wohrer

1954 - 2016

William J. Wohrer
1954-2016

William Wohrer was born February 28, 1954 in Manhattan, New York. He laid his head to rest, for the final time, after a lengthy battle with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, January 11, 2016 at his home in Spring, Texas. He was preceded in death by his: father, William G. Wohrer, uncle, Henry Wohrer, aunts Alice Skinner Edna Massaro, Mazie Sabino, and Irene O'Neil, as well has his father-in-law A.Z Ward, mother-in-law Relda Ward, and sister-in-law Judith Ward. He is survived by his: mother Rita Wohrer, brother Rob Wohrer, wife Michalene Wohrer, daughter Lindsey Wohrer, sons Christopher & Jeffrey Wohrer, brother-in-law James Ward, sisters-in-law Mary Moore and Linda Mueller, and many loving nieces and nephews. As well as the numerous friends and neighborhood kids he made part of the family.
Bill moved from New York and the age of 13 with his father and family to Houston. His father William brought them to Texas as a lead member of IBM to work in tandem with NASA on the many Apollo launches to come. Though only a teenager at the time, Bill would develop close relationships with many of the astronauts and their families. He was the neighborhood boy who was welcome with open arms at every door. He spoke fondly of their mentorships and the amazing opportunity that had been afforded him. It was a time he cherished and reveled in for the rest of his life. It would also serve as a theme in his personal relationships and his professional work in the future. He would take his boys to their first launch in Cape Canaveral so many years later to show them the beauty, power and adventuresome spirit that had captivated him all those years ago. And as man in the twilight of his career, would share a bottle of scotch in his office and sanctuary at Moffett Productions with the last man to step on the Moon, Gene Cernan.
At the age of 18, Bill enrolled at Sam Houston State University where, on the steps of Old Main, he would meet the love of his life, mother of his children, and the person who would set the stage for every wonderful adventure to come. Michalene and Bill were together since 1972 and were united in marriage on July 20th 1974, Lunar Rendezvous.
For over 41 years they stood by each other with love, strength and support. They laughed, they loved… they cried, they loved. He met her on a "Beautiful Huntsville Day" as he told it. And from the moment he opened the door of her Blue 1972 Oldsmobile 442, with the keys she had tossed him on the first chance encounter, he knew "I'm gonna marry this Woman." He did; and they were never apart again.
Bill has known and loved many. He spent his life chasing his passions in every endeavor. A member of the Texas Radio Hall of fame, Bill, aka Bill Moffett, spent the majority of his professional career in Houston radio and in 1988 would open up his own company, Moffett Productions, which is still operated today by his sons. Ever since he was a child, he knew he would be a broadcaster. He was enchanted with the medium since the first time his mother took him and his Boy Scout troop to a local station. You could always see the sparkle in his eye when he talked about the magic of radio and he would usually sum up his wonder and amazement up with, "You never know whose listening."
Radio and his company would give Bill the platform to touch countless lives. He was a natural leader. He guided, inspired, and rooted for all of us blessed enough to grow close to him. Anyone who met him, no matter how brief the encounter, knew two things about him. He was special, and he was loving. A driven talent, dedicated husband, loving father, strong big brother, gentle son, amazing friend, and truly awesome individual, Bill will be sorely missed. He was one of a kind, and the world will be a little colder without his warm voice to soothe us all.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life was held in Bill's honor Friday, January 15th at Rosewood Funeral Home & Memorial Park.
We love you Daddy