Edward William Bohling
Edward William Bohling, of Atlanta, passed away on Nov. 15.
He was born on Sept. 19, 1927 in Hollywood, California, to the late Edward W. Bohling Sr. and Blanche Johnson Bohling.
Furniture designer, photographer, woodworker, and arts supporter Edward passed away of heart failure at the home of his daughter, Liz Bober, in Bremen, Georgia, at the age of 93.
He was still active at the time of his death, writing a utopian novel set in Puerto Rico that laid out his vision for the ideal self-supporting artisan community, and inspired by his work with the international group, “Aid To Artisans.” He was also still creating one-of-a-kind functional sculptures that took the form of tables and benches.
He donated many of these artfully crafted pieces to benefit the organizations he was associated with for many years – the Highlands Chamber Music Festival, The Bascom and the Highlands Performing Arts Center. Over his long and creative life, Ed resided in cities all over the country and traveled to many places around the world, always observing the architecture and the built environment. He was especially fond of museums and made a point of visiting them whenever he could.
His occupations revolved around the furniture and architectural interior design fields. In 1967, he and wife George Ann brought their large family from the Midwest to Atlanta, Georgia, where they played an instrumental role in creating the Paideia School in the Druid Hills neighborhood there. He retired as President of Whitecraft Industries.
In his later years, he resided with several of his six children in Atlanta, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and on the Mendocino, California coast. But his real home was always Highlands, where he spent many of his most productive years and enjoyed so much beauty, companionship, and purpose in supporting the arts community there.
Edward was predeceased by his parents, his sister Nella M. Harcourt, and by his first wife George Ann.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn; daughter Gretchen Bohling and husband Douglas Stalnaker of Atlanta; Daughter Karen and husband Bob McGrath, their daughter Katie and her husband Bowen Reed, and son Michael McGrath, all of Mendocino County, CA; Daughter Anne and husband John Wynn, their son Thomas Wynn and wife Toni, their daughter Bridget Wynn and husband Matt Hicks and daughter Celeste, all of Atlanta; Son Erick Bohling, wife Mary and their son Asa Bohling of Sparta, GA; Son Curt Bohling and his sons Tristan Bohling, Graham Bohling, Max Bohling and Luke Bohling of Atlanta; Daughter Elizabeth and husband Pete Bober of Bremen, GA and their son Peter Bober of Chicago, her son Greg Keller, her son Jon Keller and his daughters Emma and Sara Keller, all of Atlanta. Edward is also survived by 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The family plans to hold a private service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Edward’s honor can be made to the Highlands Chamber Music Festival.