Margaret Kohla

Marge was born in Astoria, New York to George and Catherine Plump. It was in New York that she met and married Harry D. Kohla in the early thirties. She moved to Atlantic Beach for a short time in the thirties returning to NY only to move back to the beach in 1943 where she resided on Duval Drive for over sixty years.

She was a graduate of both New York State Teacher’s College and Jacksonville University. Before she started her teaching career with Duval County, she was the social reporter for the Ocean Beach Reporter, the local newspaper. She loved that position for it allowed her to meet many of the important military officers at the time who were here in the area gearing up for World War II. It was at that time she formed a deep appreciation for our military.

Marge taught kindergarten for many years in Jacksonville Beach. She had the first Pre-Kindergarten TV program in Jacksonville where she was called Miss Margaret.

Through her long teaching career, she became involved in two more areas of education. She was a Special Education Specialist who worked with classroom teachers to help them enhance their classroom skills to better meet the needs of their students. Her last years with the school system were spent at The Marine Science Center in Mayport. She loved teaching there and was in her element. She was in the classroom, out in the marshes or on the beach teaching the students the wonders of our coastal environment and how to protect it. She reached so many students who to this day recall fond memories of her and what they learned. She was a true educator and believed that learning never stopped no matter what the age.

Marge was a member of the Junior Women’s Club, the Garden Club, the Study Group, Delta Kappa Gamma, Navy League and the St. Paul’s Catholic Church. She was a well loved member of the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club for sixty-five years.

Marge loved adventure and enjoyed traveling by cruise ship, camel or elephant from the islands to Machu Picchu or Hong Kong. But, she also loved just sitting on the beach watching the waves or swimming in the pool at the club.

She is predeceased by her husband of thirty-five years, Harry D. Kohla.

She is survived by her daughter Linda Gail Fogg and son Don Kohla and wife Marilynn, four grandchildren, Scott Kohla and wife Jill, Commander Joseph Kohla and wife Stephanie, Avery Fogg and wife Stacey and Katherine Fogg. She was also blessed to have four adorable great-grandchildren, Will, Don, Amanda and Brandon.

Private family graveside services were held on Monday, October 4th.

Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, Jacksonville Beach