Ellwood Melvin Kohler, Jr., 82, of Leesburg, Fla., passed away on February 14, 2010 at Cornerstone Hospice in Tavares, Fla. He was born September 10, 1927 in Tamaqua, PA to the late Melvin Kohler and Martha Viola Schlosser Kohler.

He served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force during WWII and the Korean Conflict prior to retiring from National Geographic Society as Manager of the Photomechanical Laboratory. Mr. Kohler resided in Florida since 1989 after moving from Forestville, MD. He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and the Loyal Order of Moose Golden Triangle Lodge # 874.

His wife Frances Kohler, son Thomas Shue, Jr., granddaughter Katie Jackson and brother William Kohler preceded him in death.

He is survived by his daughters and their husbands, Frances and Harrison Trout of Sun City AZ, Evelyn and Steven Jackson of Astatula, Fl., and Katherine and Graham Brewer of Buckeye, AZ., 15 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. He is also survived by his siblings, Theodore Kohler of Colmar, PA and Marwood (Mary) Kohler, Sr. of Lansdale PA.

The family received friends on Saturday February 20, 2010 from 10- 12 noon at the Rausch Funeral Home, 4405 Broomes Island Road, Port Republic, MD 20676 where services followed 12 noon. Interment was private. Memorial contributions may be made to Cornerstone Hospice 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, Fl 32778.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home