William Henry Klock, a potter, woodworker and teacher, passed away on June 11, 2017, in Truro, Cornwall, England, as the result of a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 84. Bill was born in Orwigsburg, Pa. on May 6, 1933, the son of Henry and Mabel Klock. When he was 4, the family moved to Valley Stream, Long Island, N.Y. After graduating from high school, Bill joined the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1950 and went on to the Navy in 1952, working as an engine man on a submarine during the Korean conflict. After Bill’s military service, he attended Oswego State Teacher’s College in Oswego, N.Y., where he studied woodworking and teaching. Bill met Anna Mae Mohl on a blind date, and they were married in 1956. They celebrated their 60th anniversary last year by taking a nostalgic visit back to Long Island, where they had lived for 10 years. After graduating from Oswego in 1957, Bill attended evening classes at New York University. He taught art and design for 10 years at the public high school in Huntington, Long Island. In 1967, he was appointed professor of fine arts at Plattsburgh State University, where he set up the new ceramics department, inspiring and teaching students for 25 years. During this time, Anna and Bill worked on building their dream home on Jersey Swamp Road in Morrisonville, N.Y., which included a pottery studio and woodworking shop surrounded by gardens Bill had designed. In 1975, Bill took a one-year sabbatical and traveled to St. Ives, England, with his family. A highlight for Bill was spending two evenings a week visiting with Bernard Leach at his home at Barnaloft and working alongside potters Trevor Corser, John Bedding and Bill Marshall. St. Ives became a second home to Anna and Bill, and, after Bill’s retirement, they returned every year to spend time with dear friends. Bill and Anna were off to Korea for another sabbatical from 1989 to 1990, where Bill worked in Mr. and Mrs. Bong’s Pottery. After returning to the states, he continued to teach until his hearing began to fail, and he decided to retire in 1993. Bill is survived by his wife, Anna; three sons, William (Cathy Calway), Eric and Ian (Linda); three grandchildren, Nathan, Alexaundra and Cassie; and one great-granddaughter, Madison Elizabeth. He is also survived by his brother Leroy (Eleanor), his sister Susan Finney, and many nieces and…
William Henry Klock, a potter, woodworker and teacher, passed away on June 11, 2017, in Truro, Cornwall, England, as the result of a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 84. Bill was born in Orwigsburg, Pa. on May 6, 1933, the son of Henry and Mabel Klock. When he was 4, the family moved to Valley Stream, Long Island, N.Y. After graduating from high school, Bill joined the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1950 and went on to the Navy in 1952, working as an engine man on a submarine during the Korean conflict. After Bill’s military service, he attended Oswego State Teacher’s College in Oswego, N.Y., where he studied woodworking and teaching. Bill met Anna Mae Mohl on a blind date, and they were married in 1956. They celebrated their 60th anniversary last year by taking a nostalgic visit back to Long Island, where they had lived for 10 years. After graduating from Oswego in 1957, Bill attended evening classes at New York University. He taught art and design for 10 years at the public high school in Huntington, Long Island. In 1967, he was appointed professor of fine arts at Plattsburgh State University, where he set up the new ceramics department, inspiring and teaching students for 25 years. During this time, Anna and Bill worked on building their dream home on Jersey Swamp Road in Morrisonville, N.Y., which included a pottery studio and woodworking shop surrounded by gardens Bill had designed. In 1975, Bill took a one-year sabbatical and traveled to St. Ives, England, with his family. A highlight for Bill was spending two evenings a week visiting with Bernard Leach at his home at Barnaloft and working alongside potters Trevor Corser, John Bedding and Bill Marshall. St. Ives became a second home to Anna and Bill, and, after Bill’s retirement, they returned every year to spend time with dear friends. Bill and Anna were off to Korea for another sabbatical from 1989 to 1990, where Bill worked in Mr. and Mrs. Bong’s Pottery. After returning to the states, he continued to teach until his hearing began to fail, and he decided to retire in 1993. Bill is survived by his wife, Anna; three sons, William (Cathy Calway), Eric and Ian (Linda); three grandchildren, Nathan, Alexaundra and Cassie; and one great-granddaughter, Madison Elizabeth. He is also survived by his brother Leroy (Eleanor), his sister Susan Finney, and many nieces and…