Walter Bohling Jr. (Veteran)

Dr. (Colonel) Walter Henry Bohling Jr., 97, of Pebble Beach, California, died Monday, December 5, 2011, peacefully in his sleep at his home. Colonel Bohling was born November 11, 1914, in Jefferson City, Missouri, the son of Walter Henry and Lellie (Ehrhardt) Bohling. He attended Central Methodist College, Fayette, Missouri, and graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following the war, he obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, and returned to the military, serving in the U.S. Army Dental Corps from 1949 until his retirement from Fort Ord, California in 1974, with over 33 years of combined military service. Colonel Bohling's Army career included tours of duty in Oklahoma, Hawaii, the Pentagon, Frankfurt, Germany, Walter Reed Hospital, and Fort Ord. He was chief of the dental clinic at Walter Reed and Fort Ord during those tours. He was a member of the American Dental Association, The Retired Officers Association, and of Beta Theta Pi social fraternity. Throughout his school years, Colonel Bohling excelled at playing the violin, including being the assistant concert master of the Jefferson City Symphony. Walter was married to Althadene (Deanie) Christenson on June 8, 1942, in Omaha, Nebraska. Following retirement from the military, they settled in Pebble Beach, California, where he enjoyed weekly rounds of golf, socializing at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club and traveling and visiting his family. He is survived by his friend and partner, Patricia O'Shaughnessy; his son and his wife; John and Patricia (Taylor) Bohling of Modesto, California; his granddaughter, Melinda Woo, his great-grandchildren, Hayze Mariscal and Bailey Woo of Santa Maria, California; his sister, Maurine B. Shull of Jefferson City, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews. Dr. Bohling was preceded in death by his wife, Deanie, in 1991. A home memorial/remembrance is planned with inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society, 945 S. Main, Ste. 201, Salinas, CA 93901; or the American Heart Association, 1514-A Moffett, Salinas, CA 93905. Please visit www.thepaulm ortuary.com to sign Dr. Bohling's guest book and leave messages for his family.