Ralph Henry "Moe" Kohring

1935 - 2017

(News story) Ralph Henry "Moe" Kohring, a longtime Owens-Illinois finance officer, died Oct. 4. He was 82.

He died after a long illness, according to family members. He was under the care of Kingston memory care staff in Perrysburg and Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

Mr. Kohring spent a career as an Owens-Illinois finance officer, producing strategic planning projections, motivating workers, and creating new programs for company expansion.

He joined the company in 1957 and then held a series of accounting positions on the corporate staff before he was made director of accounting and financial information services in 1976. After about 30 years with the company, he retired as vice president of finance. He later was the director of marketing for three years for Harbor Fund, the mutual fund family owned by Owens-Illlinois, before retiring permanently.

In retirement, he volunteered for Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, serving in many capacities such as a sports coach, on church council, as the financial director, and the the outreach director, initiating a variety of programs. They included a contemporary jazz worship service, a worship service held in Walbridge Park.

"He was a very nice guy, easygoing, and sharp," Bart Bay of Toledo, a schoolmate and a fellow church member, said. "He was very active, a good leader, got things done at our church."

A Blade religion editor wrote about Mr. Kohring a 1996 Blade article, describing him as "an outgoing, energetic... a natural for the outreach director job."

"He works in a golf shirt, shorts, and deck shoes. He greets an elderly volunteer who is fixing up a Sunday school classroom," the story went. "He asks when the youth group plans to take its half-ton of donated aluminum cans to the recycling center. On Sundays, he makes sure church visitors get a Welcome Place mug, with the church address painted on the side."

Mr. Kohring was also a trustee on the board of Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg Township for its first eight years.

A life-long Toledo resident, Mr. Kohring was born in Aug. 12, 1935 to Norman and Verna Kohring.

He graduated in 1953 from Libbey High School, where he was on the golf team. He then went to Miami University of Ohio, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in business with specialization in finance.

His memberships included Heatherdowns Country Club and Toledo Country Club, at both of which he was a finance committee member.

Surviving are his wife of over 60 years, Sandra Kohring; daughters, Koneta Hurlstone, and Amy Bruecken; son, Eric Kohring; sisters, Elizabeth Carter and Carolyn Duermit, and eight grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1825 Glendale Ave, Toledo, Ohio.

Arrangements are by Walter Funeral Home, 4653 Glendale Ave., Toledo.

The family suggests tributes to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church or to a charity of the donor's choice.