Chief Warrant Officer Four Kenneth M. Wahlman, USA-ret., of Gloucester, died Sept. 7, 2014 at his home.
He served his country in the United States Army for 25 years retiring in 1991. During his tenure in the Army, he served briefly with the 5th Psychological Operations Battalion as a German language interrogator/interpreter following the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. He was assigned to the PM-3A nuclear power plant, McMurdo Station, Antarctica, in support of Operation Deep Freeze 1972. Chief Warrant Officer Wahlman was assigned to the 7th Transportation Group where he served aboard almost every class of vessel in the Army inventory as Chief Engineer. In 1984 he assumed duties as OIC and Chief Instructor of the Marine Engineering Committee, U.S. Army Transportation School. He served a tour in the Azores, served as activation technician for Operation Big Red 1987 and his final assignment was first Chief Engineer of the U.S. Army Heavy Lift Ship James McHenry.
Chief Warrant Officer Wahlman served as Chief, U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, Watercraft Inspection Branch at Fort Eustis from August 2001 until retiring from federal civil service in 2009.
He received numerous military awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Antarctica Service Medal with Winter Over Device and Nuclear Reactor Operator Shift Supervisor Badge. During his civil service tenure he was awarded the Distinguished Member of the Regiment, the Ancient Order of Saint Christopher, and the certificate of Appreciation for Patriotic Civilian Service to the Transportation Corps.
Chief Warrant Officer Wahlman was a member of St. Therese Catholic Church, Gloucester. He enjoyed being a numismatist, a collector of coins. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, and brother who will be dearly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul James Wahlman Sr. and Evelyn Arbisi Wahlman, and a brother, Kevin Wahlman.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Marie Wahlman; his daughter, Catherine A. Coyner and husband Jesse; his sister, Catherine Cano, and brother, Paul James Wahlman Jr.
A service of Christian Liturgy conducted by the Rev. James Cowles will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, at St. Therese Catholic Church, 6262 Main Street, Gloucester. The family received friends Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014 from 7-8 p.m. at Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point. Inurnment will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.
In memory of Kenneth Wahlman, gifts may be given to St. Therese Catholic Church, 6262 Main Street, Gloucester, Va. 23061.