Herbert Bohling

Herbert Eugene Bohling

December 13, 1936 ~ May 30, 2019

Herbert Eugene Bohling, an American patriot, died suddenly at his home in Roy Utah on Thursday, May 30, 2019, while tending the flower garden than he loved so. He was 82.

Born in Boston on December 13, 1936 to John Joseph Bohling Jr. and Elaine Thorton Welch, Herb spent much of his life in support of his country, both in the uniform of the United States Air Force and after his retirement in the employ of companies like Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Hercules, solving engineering problems for America's space shuttle and some our country's top fighter planes.

Herb joined the U.S. Air Force in 1951 after studying at MIT and for more than 20 years served as a Russian linguist for the U.S. Security Service, which provided critical information to our government to help keep Americans safe during the Cold War. He was stationed around the world, serving in Japan, England, Alaska, Florida and California. Though he never wore an overcoat, sunglasses and a hat drooped over his eyes, his work nonetheless placed him in constant peril, but his only concern was to keep his country safe.

Herb retired from the military in 1979 and moved to Utah. Although he already had a B.A. and M.A. in linguistics from Syracuse University, he went back to school and received an engineering degree from Weber State University. He spent the better part of the next two decades traveling America and working for companies that supported the United States military.

After his second retirement in 2002, Herb spent eight years working at Disney World, a job he thoroughly enjoyed. Surprisingly-but only if you didn't know him-his favorite job was working as a greeter at the Wal Mart in Clinton, Utah. After a lifetime of protecting his country, he took great joy in meeting and greeting those very people he served. He laughed, he joked, and he smiled as he welcomed his neighbors into the store.

Herb met his life partner, Geneva Hawks, while stationed at Hill AFB in Roy Utah. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in September 1959. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married civilly on April 15, 1960 and were sealed for time and all eternity in the Logan Temple on October 12, 1961. This year would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. Because of the remote locations the military took the family, temples were often a continent away. Herb made up for those years when his travels brought him near a temple. In his later years, Herb served in the Seattle, Mesa, Washington DC, Ogden and Orlando temples.

Throughout his life, Herb was an avid ham radio operator. People from miles away could find the Bohling family home by simply following the antenna tower high above the house. He would spend hours talking to friends in distant places and connecting family and friends with far away loved ones. He was also an avid genealogist and hobbyist.

It is important to note that without his wife, Herb could never have served in such a difficult job. Every few years, Herb would move on to a new station and leave behind a houseful of goods and a handful of children for Geneva to move thousands of miles to the next country. They were partners and equals and because of Geneva's get-it-done personality, all the moves were met as a challenge, not a problem.

Herb's memory and spirit will be kept alive by his wife and best friend Geneva, and his nine children, Tracey Rushdi, Terry Bocskei, Karin Price, Paul Bohling, David Bohling, Michael Bohling, Ericka Neefe, Jaime Bohling and Elizabeth Braddock. Herb's 36 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren will miss him dearly. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister and two grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Herb's viewing will be on Thursday, June 6th from 6 to 8 pm at Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary, 3333 W 5600 S. An additional viewing will be held just prior to the funeral from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Roy 14th Ward, 5850 S 2575 N. The funeral will begin at 11 and will conclude with full military honors at that location.

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