Ray Kohler is the son of the late Darwin Holmes and Dorothy Margaret (Ard) Kohler. He is an only child and was born December 23, 1939. He was named for two uncles, Warren B. Kohler and S. Ray Ard.
He attended Freedom Elementary school in Turbett Township and Port Royal Elementary School in Port Royal. He graduated from Tuscarora Valley High School in the Class of 1957.
After high school he attended Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA for two years and transferred to Shippensburg State. He received both Bachelors and Masters degrees from Shippensburg. After graduating in 1961 he taught history at Central Dauphin High School outside of Harrisburg.
After five years at Central Dauphin, he moved to Fort Pierce, Florida and taught at Indian River Community College for two years. He then spent a year doing graduate work at Florida State in Tallahassee.
After a year at Florida State, he and his wife Geneva secured faculty positions at two community colleges in New Jersey. He at Gloucester County College and she at Burlington County College.
While teaching, Ray attended the Northern Virginia Law School from which he graduated with a JD degree.
He retired in 2007 and resides in West Deptford Township, Gloucester County, NJ.
He has two sons, David born in 1972 and Brian born in 1976.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/24/10 - Image Year: 1961
Ray Kohler upon graduation from Shippensburg State in 1961.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/24/10 - Image Year: 1941
Ray Kohler with his grandfather William H. Ard about 1941. (The photo was taken in the Ard front yard in Old Port.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/11/10 - Image Year: 1944
Brothers Bill Groninger and Ben Groninger and Ray Kohler in their Easter finest in the William Ard yard at Old Port (Approx. 1944)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/28/11 - Image Year: 1947
Bob Bardell, Ray Kohler and Bill Groninger in the Ard yard in Old Port, 1947.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 4/5/11 - Image Year: 1947
This picture was taken at the Freedom School (Turbett Township) Chrismas Play in 1947. Some of the students are named. Although she is not in the picture, Ruth Bergstresser Zendt was the teacher.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 11/28/11 - Image Year: 1957
Ray Kohler in his 1957 Tuscarora Valley High School yearbook photo.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 6/4/10 - Image Year: 1957
This is a photo of Ray Kohler as he appeared during his senior year at Tuscarora Valley High School.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 11/29/14 - Image Year: 1957
1957 TUSCARORA YEARBOOK STAFF: (seated l-r) Donna Welshonse, Nancy McCahan, Amelia Hartman, Donna Boyer; (standing l-r) Glen Kepner, Audrey Bashore, Ray Kohler, Janice McClure, Marianna Hartman, Louann Groninger. (Photo submitted by Amelia Hartman McElwee)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 6/12/24 - Image Year: 1957
TVHS CLASS of 1957 GRADUATION PICTURE: FRONT ROW (L - R): Donna Welshonse, Leon Harbst, Amelia Hartman, Ray Kohler, Janice McClure, Donald Gilliland, Louann Groninger; MIDDLE ROW: Bruce Hockenberry, Nancy McCahan, Glen "Skip" Kepner, Marianna Hartman, Jonathan Boyer, Audrey Bashore, Donald Fike; BACK ROW: Lena "Jackie" Goodman, Donna Boyer, Larue Strawser
Contributed by marshingle on 4/11/16
Mr. Kohler taught me history at Central Dauphin high school and was one of two of my most inspirational teachers. He made history come alive in a way that no previous teacher did and made me a lifelong history lover. Thank you Mr. Kohler.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 4/22/15 - Image Year: 1972
Ray while serving as Treasurer of Association of New Jersey County College Faculties (ANJCCG) a statewide affiliate of the New Jersey Education Association. (1972)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/24/10 - Image Year: 1979
Ray and Geneva Kohler and sons David (l) and Brian (r) in West Deptford, New Jersey about 1979.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 10/31/14 - Image Year: 1977
Ray Kohler (l) and his Gloucester County College political science students visit Congressman James Florio in Washington about 1977. Congressman Florio later served as Governor of New Jersey.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/24/10 - Image Year: 1992
Ray Kohler receives congratulations from Dr. Richard Jones, college president, for 25 years of service as a faculty member at Gloucester County College in the spring of 1992. (The photo was taken in the college dining room at Sewell, New Jersey.)(Dick Smith is in the background.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 7/4/18 - Image Year: 2018
TVHS CLASSMATES (CLASS OF 57) Amy (Hartman) McElwee and her husband Bill had lunch with Ray Kohler on her birthday, July 2, 2018 at Ray's home in West Deptford, NJ. Both Amy and Ray are 78 years old.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 10/22/22 - Image Year: 2022
AT CRAIG MCELWEE FUNERAL SERVICE: Ray Kohler in wheelchair with Bill McElwee to his right and Mimose Fleury (Home Health Aide) behind him. (Photo by Harold Hartman, Jr.)
