EMIL JOHN (E.J.) WOHLT, JR., a native Houstonian who retired to April Sound in Montgomery, Texas, eight years ago, passed away on February 5, 2005. E.J. was a loving family man, a devout Christian, an active civic leader, a successful trial attorney, a true Longhorn, and an avid story-teller. He was born September 21, 1933, in Houston, the only child of the late Emil John and Stella Bernhard Wohlt. Raised as a third generation member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Houston, E.J. graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1951. E.J. earned his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas in 1955 and was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. On August 25, 1956, while in law school at U.T., E.J. married the love of his life, the former Carolyn Rose Monroe of Beaumont, Texas. He earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas in 1957. E.J. was a civil litigation attorney in private practice in Houston until his retirement in 1997. He was Board Certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. E.J. was licensed to practice law in all courts in the state of Texas and all applicable federal courts. He was an active member of the State Bar of Texas and the American Bar Association. E.J. had been active in many professional organizations over the years, including the Houston Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Association of Defense Council, and Montgomery County Bar Association, as well as a member of the Defense Research Institute. E.J. was a community and church leader as well. He had most recently been active at First United Methodist Church in Conroe, singing in the Chancel Choir with his wife Carolyn. E.J. and Carolyn were also active in the church choirs at Grace Presbyterian Church, Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, and Gethsemane United Methodist Church, all in Houston. In the 1990's, E.J. and Carolyn toured Europe, the United Kingdom, and Canada with the renowned Chancel Choir at Grace Presbyterian. At Memorial Drive Methodist in the 1970's and 1980's, E.J. served on the Administrative Board. At Gethsemane UMC in the 1960's and 1970's, he was part of the building committee for the Education Wing of the church, and he also chaired the committee for the Activities Building. E.J. served on the Administrative Board as finance chairman and chairman of the Membership Care Committee. While at Gethsemane UMC, he served as lay delegate to the Texas Annual Conference of the Methodist Church for six years. E.J. also conducted a prison ministry and led worship services in an Inner Cities Church on North Main in Houston. He was President of the Pat Neff Elementary Parent Teacher Organization and the Sharpstown Junior High PTA. In fact, E.J. accepted Sharpstown Junior High School on behalf of the community. He was Chairman of the Naming Committee for Ed White Elementary School in the Houston Independent School District. E.J. worked behind the scenes in politics in Houston, serving as Precinct Chairman in West Houston. E.J. was also a member of the Houston Jaycees. After his retirement, E.J. and Carolyn moved to their house on Lake Conroe in April Sound, and he served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the April Sound Property Owners Association, and was still a member of the Board at the time of his death. E.J. enjoyed playing bridge and golf, and spending time with his family and friends. He loved to travel in his motor home around the United States, as well as taking many sight-seeing trips to Europe and Mexico. During his life, E.J. played and umpired baseball and softball, had his pilot's license, and was a winning fisherman. He was preceded in death by his parents. E.J. is survived by his devoted wife of 48 years Carolyn Rose Monroe Wohlt; their three daughters, Deborah Wohlt Cooper and husband M. Lawrence of Beaumont, Texas; Kathryn Wohlt Sparks of Sugar Land, Texas and Becca Wohlt Sheaff and husband Joseph of Willis, Texas; and three grandchildren, Ryan David Sparks of Sugar Land, and Joseph Louis Sheaff IV and Caroline Anne Sheaff of Willis. The family wishes to especially thank our wonderful caregivers Glenda Davis of Consider the Lilies, as well as the special caregiver at Park Manor in Conroe who took care of E.J. so beautifully for the last month. E.J. told one of his daughters recently that he loved God, and that he had tried to love all of God's creatures. Pallbearers are M. Lawrence Cooper, Joseph L. Sheaff III, Joe Bowden, John Beury, Tom Robinson, Jim Arnold. Honorary Pallbearers are Clefton Scott, Phil Keitel, William F. Wohlt, Jr., Charles Brussels, Jr., The Rev. Albert M. Boysen, Jim Dorman and David Womack. Visitation will be on Monday, February 7, 2005, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Metcalf Funeral Home in Conroe. Funeral services will be conducted at First United Methodist Church, 4308 West Davis, Conroe, at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 8, 2005, with the Rev. William Taylor presiding. A second service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Memorial Oaks Funeral Chapel, 13001 Katy Freeway with interment following. For those desiring, memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association or American Heart Association.

Published by Houston Chronicle from Feb. 7 to Feb. 8, 2005.