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Rita C. Kohler
RITA (CONNELL) KOHLER, 85, OF NORTH COVENTRY Rita (Connell) Kohler, 85, of North Coventry, beloved mother, and wife of the late Raymond David Kohler, passed away from cancer in her home Saturday evening, December 12. Born in Pottstown on May 14, 1924, Rita was the daughter of James Paul Connell and Jennie (Kline) Connell. She graduated from Pottstown High School in 1942. Always patriotic and community minded, Rita served as a local air raid warden during WWII, and later in life she volunteered as a radiological emergency response representative for the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant. In 1946, Rita married Raymond D. Kohler, a returning U.S. Marine Corps veteran also from Pottstown. They became an outstanding team of public servants, and together they raised two fine sons. Rita and Raymond were founding members of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Pottstown, where they each taught Sunday school. A lifelong lover of books, she served as a library assistant at the French Creek Elementary School for several years, and also as a frequent volunteer for the Norco Fire Company of which her husband was a founding member. While Raymond was elected North Coventry Township Supervisor, Rita served for 18 years as Township Secretary. They both were instrumental in organizing rescue and reconstruction assistance for South Pottstown during the devastating flood of Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Rita was so expert at her job, that when she retired in 1986, she was replaced by three persons – a Township Manager, a Secretary and a Treasurer. Following retirement, Rita worked for years at Logan Florist in Pottstown, where her sense of organization and love of plants and people were crucial. After the death of her husband in 2001, Rita remained self-sufficient, independent and robust – working in her yard, harvesting her berry patch, planting and arranging flowers, sewing her own clothes, walking her dog and baking the best pies around. She absolutely loved dogs, horses, horse-racing, playing cards, books, and the natural world. She could easily dominate any conversation about history, current events, politics and sports of all kinds. Her life philosophy was one of curiosity, tolerance and contentment. She was often sought out for her wisdom, advice, and willingness to help others – by both young and old alike. Rita was preceded in death by her three brothers. She is survived by her two sons: CAPT David Ryan Kohler, a retired Navy SEAL, and daughter-in-law, Madeline Hopkins Kohler of West Chester; and Steven Paul Kohler, a petroleum engineer, and daughter-in-law, Carol (Lenk) Kohler of Williamsburg, MI. She is also survived by her sister, Sara (Connell) Hoffman of Douglassville; sister-in-law, Arlene (Mensch) Connell of Pottstown; sister-in-law, Jane (Stetler) Kohler of Pottstown; eleven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Rita will be cremated and interred in Mount Zion Cemetery. A memorial service celebrating her life will be conducted later in the spring. Contributions in Rita’s memory may be made to: Neighborhood Hospice Services, 400 East Marshall Street, West Chester, PA, 19380, (610) 696-6511; or Chester County SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA, 19380, (610) 692-6113. |
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