August Koehler

ARLINGTON – August Calvin “Gus” Koehler, 89, a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant passed away on Monday, January 16, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. Private Graveside Service: Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas. Gus was born on May 11, 1927 in Oak Island to Oscar Ottis Koehler and Lena Winona Reichel Koehler. He grew up and attended school in Oak Island, Somerset and San Antonio. His family moved to Fort Worth and he graduated from Polytechnic High School in 1944. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Merchant Marine on the S.S. Pine Bluff Victory in the Pacific theater until the end of WWII. Calvin enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1946. He served in the Korean War (1950-1951) with the 30th Bomb Squadron on Okinawa, Japan as a B-29 radar mechanic. During his 20-year career, he was associated with maintenance of communication and navigational radar systems for SAC B-29, B-47, B-52, Air Refueling Tankers, KC97 (his favorite aircraft), KC-135; MATS aircraft and the TAC F-104 aircraft. He served overseas in Guam, Japan, England, Morocco and the Azores. He earned numerous commendations and medals including the Army Commendation Medal. Calvin married Mary Florence Booth of Fort Worth on January 6, 1956, in Tampa, Florida while stationed at MacDill Air Force Base. They were blessed with two daughters, Karol and Kim and a son, Michael. He liked to help his children select and complete school science projects. After retiring on September 1, 1966 at George AFB, California, he was employed at Texas Instruments (TI) in Dallas/Lewisville for 24 years as a Technical Publications Writer. He enjoyed his writing career at TI and the travel associated with attending his manual validation/verification conferences at White Sands Missile Range and other Air Force bases. He often referred to his writing career as his “Second Air Force Career”. He was a Senior Member (20 years) in the Lone Star Chapter of the Society of Technical Communication. Gus was a fast-pitch softball pitcher for his base and squadron teams during his entire Air Force career. He played for the Arlington Spurs in the Senior Softball League. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren, Brandon and Kristen play on T-ball, Little League and High School Ball teams. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Michael; sister, Lorraine Schott; and son-in-law, Robert G. Moretz. Survivors: He leaves behind his wife of 61 years, Mary Florence; daughters, Karol Koehler and Kimberlie Moretz; and son, Michael Koehler and wife, Terri; sister, Willie Lee Crow; and grandson, Brandon Moretz and wife, Natalie and great-grandson, Mason; and granddaughter, Kristen Moretz. Wade Family Funeral Home (817) 274-9233