William Bouline

William Charles Bouline, of Dover, Iowa, died on April 14, 2015, at his home.  

Born in Manly, Iowa, he was the son of the late Charles and Gladys (Kimmel) Bouline.

Bill served in the United States Air Force for 20 years as a navigator in C-124s, AC-47s, C-133s and C-141s and as an Air Traffic Control Officer.  He retired in 1974 as a Lieutenant Colonel.  He spent his career flying all over the world, including airlift operations into the Congo Crisis in 1960, in Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica in 1962, and repeatedly in West Germany throughout the Cold War.  He also served as an AC-47 “Spooky” gunship crewmember during the Vietnam War in 1969, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) during his service there.

After retiring from the Air Force, Bill started off on a “new” career path, that of a Tennis Pro (he had played recreational tennis and racquet ball while in the Air Force). He and Ria opened the Tennis Corner and Bill began teaching tennis.  Between The Tennis Corner in the summer and Dover Indoor Tennis in the winter, Bill ended up teaching tennis in Dover for 26 years.  He taught many generations of tennis players in Dover and the surrounding area.  Bill ended his teaching career as the tennis coach of Saint Thomas More Academy after four years in 2010.

Bill’s greatest joy in life was his family as evidenced by 58 years of marriage with his wife, Ria, and their two children, who eventually gave him five grandchildren.  Those five grandchildren became the focus of the past 29 years.  He spent countless days picking them up from school, going to gymnastic meets, soccer games, swim meets, concerts and recitals and most of all going to Dunkin’ Donuts and WAWA.  His Saturday morning ritual was to pick them up and head to DD or WAWA and just enjoy time together.  He also shared with them his love of music, photography, and the world.  Bill and Ria took each grandchild on their own personal tour of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, introducing them to a love of mountains, castles and hiking.  Bill was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather who will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Maria “Ria” Bouline, Dover; two children, Nanette Kay Bouline Holmes and partner, Michael Utley, Dover; Erik Charles Bouling, Millersville, Md.; seven grandchildren, Christian Bouline, Bettina Holmes and partner, Jason Sauders, Steffi Holmes and husband, Timothy Plimpton, Danielle Bouline, Joshua Holmes, Michael R. Utley and fiance, Melanie Georgules, and Matthew Utley and wife, Ginn; three great-grandchildren, Ryan Utley, Sophia Georgules, and Barnes Utley; two sisters, Pat Klinge and husband, David, Clear Lake, Neva Bitker, Mason City, and Otti Roeckel, Munchweiler, Germany; along with adopted family members, the Janney/Moylan family, Laura, Brooke, Sarah, Cameron and Ryan, Gayle Westbrook, Joshua Stough, and John Schwind.