Raymond E. Wochner

RAYMOND E. WOCHNER DR. RAYMOND E. WOCHNER, age 90, of Tempe, Arizona, and a long-time educator in Arizona, passed away December 8, 2002. His wife, Evelyn, predeceased him January 18, 1996. He is survived by his two sons, Dr. R. Dean Wochner (Marcia) and Karl E. Wochner (Shar); his brother, Harold Wochner, of Henderson, Neb.; his sister-in-law, Billie Swanberg (Ted), of Grass Valley, CA, his eleven grandchildren, David Wochner (Melinda), John Wochner (Laura), Mike Wochner, Anne Wochner, Phillip Wochner, Cindy Wochner, Becky Stewart (Ken), Erin Wells, Kris Rice, Shay Rice, and Mike Rice; his four great-grandchildren, Erin Wochner, Brooke Wochner, Grace Wochner, and Jessica Cole; two great-grandchildren, not yet born; two former daughters-in-law, Joanne Wochner and Cathy Wochner, and by other relatives and friends who have meant so much to him during his lifetime. Born Feb. 16, 1912, in York, Neb. (two days after Arizona became a state), Ray was raised on a farm, then worked for his father's business (Ed Wochner Cash Coal Co.) delivering coal in the York area. He met his wife, Evelyn, at the Conservatory of Music at York College. Upon graduation from York College with a B.S. degree in 1934, he was a public school teacher, principal and school superintendent in Gresham, Neb., Beaver City, Neb., and Daly City, CA. He earned his Master of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska in 1940. He also taught math and physics in the Air Force Pre-flight Program in La Grande, Oregon during World War II. In 1945, he earned the first Ph.D ever to be presented by the Univ. of Wyoming. Then, he joined the faculty of the Univ. of Illinois as Asst. Professor of Educational Administration from 1941 to 1949. In 1949, he was named Dean of the College of Education, at the Univ. of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Conn. In 1952, he moved to Tempe, AZ, where (at ASU) he was a professor of Educational Administration from 1952-1978, and Chairman of the Department of Educational Administration from 1954-1978. He prepared administrators for colleges and universities, and specialists in community education, and directed numerous educational survey teams in several states. He retired from ASU in 1978, at which time he was honoured with rank of professor Emeritus. He was active in developing a competency-based performance plan for preparing educational administrators, and was co-author of IOTA (Instrument for the Observation of Teaching Activities) widely used in public schools in 30 states. He also was co-author of INSTROTEACH (Instrument for the Observation of Teaching Activities in the Church). This program was designed to improve church education and became international in scope. Dr. Wochner authored or co-authored countless professional research publications, and directed numerous educational survey teams in several states. He is listed in Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in American Education. He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa since 1938, and a charter member of the ASU Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa since 1953, serving as sponsor. He held memberships in AASA, ASCD, NEA, AEA, ASA, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, and served as president, treasurer and institutional representative for the Arizona College Association for 12 years. Ray was interested in all forms of music, singing in quartets, church choirs, and as a soloist over many years. He was a kind, gentle, and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, teacher and doctoral advisor to his students, and will further be remembered for his keen sense of humor. The family celebrates his life. Services will be held on Friday, Dec. 13, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. at the University Presbyterian Church, 139 East Alameda Drive, Tempe, AZ. Visitation will be Thursday evening, December 12, 2002, from 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Carr-Tenney Mortuary, 2621 South Rural Road, Tempe, AZ. Memorial donations may be made to the "Wochner Scholarship in Educational Leadership" c/o Phi Delta Kappa, ASU Chapter, College of Education, P.O. Box 872611, Tempe, AZ 85287-2611; Or to the University Presbyterian Church music program, in the name of Ray Wochner, 139 East Alameda Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282. Arrangements are with Carr Tenney Mortuary.