William A. Falkler

YORK William Alexander Falkler, renowned York County artist, passed away on Monday, August 11, 2014, at the Dallastown Nursing Center. He was 88 years of age and the husband of the late Kathryn Grove Falkler. They were married for 65 years. He was born Feburary 6, 1926, the son of Nettie Falkler McBride and Irvin Landis Falkler. After serving in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific during World War II, he attended and graduated from the Maryland Institute of Art. He taught art at the York Academy of Arts and became owner, director, and President of the Academy for almost 30 years. After selling the Academy he became a full-time painter and was very prolific, painting over 3,000 original paintings in his lifetime. These paintings hang in private collections, hospitals, businesses, and public and private galleries around the world. His paintings have won over 50 prizes and awards and are treasured by their owners. He has had 36 one-man art shows. He described himself as a romantic pictorial historian, frantically recording the environment and architectural accomplishments of people, thus trying to capture American heritage for the future. Bill and Katie loved to travel and he did paintings in Holland, Ireland, India, Germany, Wales, Mexico, Spain, France, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was warm, friendly, and full of life, and loved to teach art to his many students. He was a member of the prestigious Pennsylvania Society of Watercolor Painters, the York Art Association, the Harrisburg Art Association, and the Louisiana Watercolor Society. He was a member of the York Area Chamber of Commerce, York Historical Society, York Twinning, York Codorus Yacht Club, Stewartstown and York Legions and VFWs, and supporter of the York Symphony Orchestra and Martin Memorial Library. He was called on to judge many art shows and to present art lectures. He is survived by a daughter, Kay M. Cochran and her husband, Martin of Bel Air, Md.; a son, Dr. William A. Falkler, Jr. and his wife, Patricia of Stewartstown; a son-in-law, Tim Hirneisen of East Berlin; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Jackie L. Hirneisen; and a brother, Irvin S. Falkler. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a service to celebrate the life of Mr. William Falkler at 3 p.m. Sunday, August 24, 2014, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 925 S. George St., York, with the Rev. Robert Renjilian presiding. Prior to the service, the family will receive friends 2 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jackie Hirneisen Scholarship Fund, checks made out to The Education Foundation and in the memo line it should note Jackie Hirneisen Scholarship. Checks may be mailed to The Education Foundation, 210 Sixth Ave., 33rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.