F. W. Ohlandt Iii
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F. W. OHLANDT III, (Bill) age 66, native of Charleston, South Carolina, and a long-time resident of Montgomery, Alabama, entered into eternal rest November 24, 2021. His funeral service will be held at the graveside in Magnolia Cemetery on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel.
Bill was born and raised in Charleston, son of F.W. (Gunner) Ohlandt, Jr. and Dorothy (Dottie) Henderson Ohlandt. He retired from the Air Force as a Major after serving on active duty and then continuing his service as a reservist and civil servant.
Like many Charleston boys, Bill began his life riding his bike to East Bay Playground for four par, ping pong and youth football. John Barnwell remembered how they all piled into Miss Dot's station wagon.
Two of his passions, after that, were bike riding and tennis. He loved to ride his ten and twelve speed bikes with Joe Maturo and Adam Vain. They were the first to ride over the Cooper River Bridge. Enjoying his other lifelong passion, tennis, he played countless games at any hour with anyone, but mostly Betsy, on the court behind the clubhouse. He made two trips to Belton, SC for the State Championship, coming in third one year and fourth the next year. As a senior at First Baptist School, he led the basketball team to a state championship and won Most Valuable Player.
In the Summer the family would move to Folly Island and Bill would rock on the porch for hours and look at the ocean, a favorite pastime he shared with his children and grandchildren. Throughout his youth, for two weeks every year, the family would travel to High Hampton, Brevard, Sliding Rock and Maggie Valley Ghost Town in North Carolina.
After graduating from First Baptist School, Bill joined the Corp of Cadets at The Citadel. He worked hard and excelled there. In addition to being number three on the tennis team, he graduated as a Major with a GPA of 3.4.
After graduating from The Citadel, Bill began his Air Force career and served primarily as a Financial Analyst, Contracting Officer and Program Manager. After an assignment at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), he was then assigned to Warner Robbins AFB, where he met and married Dianne (Chrissy) Ohlandt and adopted her son Paul. They were further blessed with two daughters, Sara and Katherine. During his time in Macon, Georgia, he obtained a Master's in Business Administration from Georgia College. After a brief assignment at Dobbins AFB in Georgia, he was then reassigned to Gunter AFB in Montgomery, Alabama. With his family, he settled in the Montgomery area, where he lived for the rest of his life and completed his Air Force Service.
He continued to enjoy tennis and bike riding and would return to Folly Island for vacation most summers, while residing in Georgia and Alabama. He also played in tennis leagues with his longtime friend, Billy Foxworth, for as long as his health allowed. His good friend, Jerry Gentle, introduced him to ATV riding, which they enjoyed together on many adventures throughout Mississippi and Alabama. He never lost his love of boating. He shared this passion with his children on many a trip to Lake Martin. He believed that creating wonderful, lifelong memories with one's children is of the utmost importance and the greatest thing one can leave them. He greatly treasured spending time with his grandchildren as well.
Throughout his life, Bill remained strong in his faith and devoted to studying his Bible each morning. Without a doubt, the Lord has prepared a room for Bill in Heaven and we are sure that Walter, Harry and Joe will be there to welcome him home.
Bill is survived by his children: Paul Christian Larsen, Sara Anne Ohlandt and Katherine Leigh Hart; six grandchildren: Ryleigh Elizabeth Larsen, Arick Christian Larsen, Brighten Katherine Larsen, Brinley Grace Hart, Cadence Allison Larsen and Gunner Leroy Cooper; his brother, C. H. OHLANDT, SR.; his nephew and niece, Cran Henderson Ohlandt, Jr. and Emily Antley Robinson
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the F. William "Gunner" Ohlandt, Jr. '51 Memorial Athletic Scholarship Fund at the The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC 29409.
A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.
With Gratitude,
THE OHLANDT FAMILY