Obituary of William Art Yeager

William "Bill" Art Yeager, 79, of Wilmington, died Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in State College, PA.

Born November 7, 1944, in Harlingen, TX, he was the son of the late William and Vivian (Art) Yeager. He spent a happy childhood in Westerville growing up with his sister Linda and brother Fred. After graduating from Westerville High School in 1962, Bill matriculated to The Ohio State University and received his degree in teaching. He would go on to obtain Master's degrees from both Ohio University and the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX.

Following college, Bill joined the Air Force and spent several years in Texas teaching reading to cadets and driving his Austin-Healy Sprite in the sun, leading to a lifelong love for red convertibles! While in the service, Bill achieved the rank of Staff Sargent (E5), and made many lifelong friends. After leaving the Air Force in 1972, Bill returned to Ohio and ultimately landed in Marietta Ohio as a middle school teacher and reading specialist. He loved teaching Ohio history, and especially loved to study the native Ohio indigenous people, creating games for his students incorporating various tribes that lived in Ohio, and dragging his children (Nick, Kami, and Andrea) to visit the many Indian mounds throughout Ohio!

On May 10, 1985 he married Martha C. (Marshall) Yeager, and her children Jenna and Erin became part of his family as well. They enjoyed taking all 5 of their children to concerts, art museums, and other activities to try to give them a little culture. Professionally, Bill transitioned to administration, serving as a principal in the Marietta, Waterford, and Northridge school systems before retiring and moving to Wilmington, NC.

In addition to loving his role as a husband, father, and grandfather, Bill was an avid and accomplished photographer and a history buff who in retirement volunteered his time at Fort Fisher in Wilmington NC. An accomplished music snob, Bill loved to keep his 500 CD changer full of selections from Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, and many of his other favorites. He loved Miniature Italian Greyhounds, Wassily Kandinsky prints, boxed wine, and was a health food nut. He could be very funny, and he never failed to try to find the good in people.

Bill is survived by his five children, Nicholas (Nicole) Yeager of Newark, OH, Kami (Rebecca Lyon) Yeager of Nelsonville, OH, Andrea (James) Berkenkamp of Redondo Beach, CA, Jenna Moorehead of Charlotte, NC, Erin (Gregory Somers) Crown of State College, PA. He is also survived by two siblings, Linda (Vince) Nowak of St. Peters, MO and Fred (Geline) Yeager of Abilene, KS. He also had eleven grandchildren (Anna, Lydia, Elena, Kiah, Kidron, Harvest, Drew, Maizy, Isabella, Rowan, and Jack) and three great-grandchildren (Aaron, Jackson, and Jana).

Service Information: A Celebration of Life Reception will be held on July 6, 2024 from 5 PM-8 PM at Schmidt's Restaurant, 240 E. Kossuth St, Columbus, OH.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.