Carl Bailey Oehler

On September 18, 2025, loving husband and father Carl Oehler passed away in Arlington, Texas at the age of 85. He is survived by son Paul, beloved grandchildren Patrick and Parker, nephew Albert Ranzau of San Antonio, and niece Karen. He was predeceased by son David (2021 COVID-19) and wife Jane (2022 Parkinson’s). Carl and Jane were deeply in love with 59-year marriage after choosing Arlington as home in 1963. God peacefully released his weak heart to enter Heaven.

Carl was a kind, honest, and hard working patriarch of the family. Oehler family members were Germans who settled around the Kerrville Texas area and fought at the Battle of San Jacinto. His parents were older. His father was born in 1888, a biplane mechanic, and 70-years old at time of Carl’s high school graduation; his father Edwin was a US Army ambulance driver in Company No. 7 in fight against the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. His mother Willie Tennessee Kerr’s family were Texas Congressmen.

Carl believed that good fortune came down to 3 decisions: who you marry, where you live, and choices about education. Carl grew up in a poor area of San Antonio Texas living in an auto body shop. That is why he was so respectful of the elderly, loved to help kids, and especially generous to disadvantaged people. With encouragement from a childhood physician’s family, Carl worked hard to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin in Mechanical Engineering in 1964. At age 24, he started a career at Bell Helicopter, while his 22 year old wife Jane stayed at UT Austin to finish her Education degree. Jane’s father was chief engineer for HB Zachry building the electric generating plant downtown Austin. They were forever two kids in love. They chose to start a family and multiple companies in Arlington in early 1960’s -- buying massive amounts of land, real estate, and mineral interests across Texas. He hired countless engineering interns and loved playing chess with them. He felt it was important to live near a major university to always have fresh ideas.

Carl was a licensed professional engineer, the highest legal credential in Texas for engineers. Like the other 7 professions regulated by the State of Texas, he maintained high ethical standards for the law. At General Dynamics, Carl hand-calculated complex wind tunnel aerodynamics that are still used today in supersonic flow of F-16 engines, Space Shuttle, and many others. He worked on secret programs at Otis Engineering-Halliburton, Siemens, and Lockheed Martin.

He was always competitive. Carl and Jane were excellent sailors who often won regattas. He built his own fiberglass sailboats at a time when composite materials were brand new technology. Carl loved playing all team sports, tennis, racquetball tournaments, and traveled the world playing golf. He often helped children through Hope Tutoring, coaching Boys Club sports, Kiwanis, and Methodist Church. He loved racing his go-kart in the North Texas GoKarters races.

Carl and Jane helped both of their children successfully graduate from the University of Texas at Austin; Son Paul Oehler, PE earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering who is 36-years Vice-President of Romeo Engineering Inc in Fort Worth; Son David Oehler earned 3 degrees in Finance, Marketing, and Real Estate and developed much of uptown Dallas before retirement. Carl adored his two grandsons, especially proud of both their Eagle Scout Ranks. Grandson Patrick recently graduated Texas Wesleyan University with degrees in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics; Grandson Parker is attending University of Texas at Austin.

As patriarch, Carl prayed the family not to be free of troubles in life, but rather to meet them face to face. He held everything together during multiple tragedies of a devastating house fire, Jane’s cancer, and her Parkinson’s struggles -- all while operating multiple successful companies.

Carl came a long way from where he started. In the end, what mattered most to Carl were honesty, professionalism, a wholesome honorable life, and commitment to comfort others.

A visitation for Carl will be held Sunday, September 28, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Moore Funeral Home, 1219 North Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76012, followed by a funeral service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

The staff at Moore Funeral Home encourages family and friends to express their fond memories, expressions of sympathy and additional condolences to the family of Carl Bailey Oehler, by visiting www.moore-funeralhome.com.

In addition, if you or someone you know wish to send a floral condolence to the Oehler family in honor of the late Carl Bailey Oehler, you may choose to do so by calling In Bloom Flowers and Gifts at (972)-256-6637.