Edward F. Kohl

Edward F. Kohl (Eddie), a commercial pilot for over 50 years passed away on August 15, 2011 in Palm Bay, FL. Born in Johnstown, OH he was the only child of Konrad and Mary Kohl. At the age of 16 Eddie received his pilot license. He was a 1937 graduate of New Philadelphia High School. He worked on the first fixed wing aircraft built at Tuscora Metals in New Philadelphia. He also worked at Taylorcraft factory in Alliance, OH.Mr. Kohl joined the Civil Air Patrol and ferried planes to flying schools throughout the Midwest. He entered the U.S. Naval Air Corp in 1943. He and John Glenn were in the same class and went to Corpus Christi, TX together for further training. While in the Navy, he was commissioned as Ensign JG and was a flight instructor. Upon discharge from the Navy Eddie took two years of additional training in forestry and was hired by the Ohio Reclamation Association. He flew fire patrol for the Ohio Forestry Dept. He was also a major in the Tuscarawas Country Sheriff Dept. Air Patrol. His first operation was to fly local sheriff dept. scuba divers to the Silver Bridge disaster on the Ohio River. Of the many awards he received for conservation and reclamation over the years he was most proud of his award from the Ohio Game Reserve for his part in the planting of 20 million trees on strip mined land in Ohio.Eddie did aerial mapping for Hanna and Peabody Coal and others. He owned a trio of Cessna aircraft to accomplish his aerial mapping and with the help of friends built a 2000 ft. runway on his Father’s farm. After 25 years with the Ohio Reclamation Association he opened a sanitary landfill in Tuscarawas County and later operated four landfills in Stark and Tuscarawas counties. After retiring in 1981, he continued his love for conservation by constructing three small lakes on the family farm. He moved to Melbourne, FL in 1994 and traveled between Ohio and Florida for several years. Eddie was predeceased by his wife, Della E. (Knisely) Kohl in 2006. He is survived by three children; Jerry (Donna Kochman) Kohl of Strasburg, OH, James (Rita) Kohl of New Philadelphia, OH and Judy (Jack) Hipper of Palm Bay, FL. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Renee (Jeff) Friermor of Los Angeles, CA, Brian (Seena Gier) Kohl of Strasburg, Kerry (Jon) Schmidt of Louisville, KY, Ashley Kohl of Athens, OH, Corporal Tyler Kohl of Yuma, AZ and Savanna Hipper of Palm Bay, FL.Memorial services will be October 28, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. Memorial contributions in Edward’s memory may be made to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 202 E. High Ave., New Philadelphia, OH 44663.