William Klinger

William Frederick Klinger, 81, of Mansfield, died Friday, September 11, 2009, at MedCentral, Mansfield. Born April 9, 1928, in Mansfield, he was the son of John Conrad and Katherine Schwier Klinger. A veteran of the United States Army, he retired from the Richland County Engineers Office. Mr. Klinger was a member for many years of St. John's United Church of Christ where his father had been choir director for 40 years and lately had been associated with Stone Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ashland. Music was a lifelong passion of Mr. Klinger, having played viola for the Mansfield Symphony for over 40 years, retiring at the end of the end of the '08-'09 season. He also played the viola in the Thousand Oaks, CA Symphony, Tuscarawas Symphony, Wheeling West Virginia Symphony, Ashland Symphony Orchestra, and many weddings and other functions in a string ensemble and had shared his love of music with his family. Mr. Klinger was a very outgoing and likable man, always saying "Hi neighbor" to everyone and fitness being very important to him, had made many friends at the YMCA. He enjoyed to read and had tutored at Prospect Elementary for many years where he was fondly referred to as "Uncle Bill". Most important to Mr. Klinger was his family of nieces, nephews, cousins and his many friends, especially his pal Leo who will greatly miss him.

Surviving are a nephew, William Karen Foor of Mansfield; a niece, Kathryn Pierce and companion, Vince Seifert of Sacramento, CA; two great nieces, Sonia Kevin Klein and Darcy David Fields; two great great nieces, Hayley and Makenzie Hendrickson; and one great great nephew, Kevin Klein. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, John David Klinger; a sister, Ann Jeanette Foor Wandel; and a great great niece, Lindsey Klein.

Friends may call from 3-7 p.m. Monday, September 14, 2009, at the Diamond Street Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 98 S. Diamond St., Mansfield, OH 44902. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at the funeral home conducted by Rev. Gretchen Wagner and Rev. Jan Berthinee. Burial will follow in Mansfield Cemetery where full military services will be conducted by the Richland County Veterans Burial Detail. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mansfield Symphony, your local Symphony Orchestra or the Mansfield YMCA.