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Departures
January 2006 - Present
Departures from December
2005 and earlier
The obituaries posted below have been submitted by family or
friends. Some notifications only provide the name and
year of death and will be posted on the deceased list (for members
only) at
http://www.airweaassn.org/roster/Losses.pdf |
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Karl
Francis Grumbach, MSgt USAF (Ret.)
died on
December 12, 2009 in Sun
City, Arizona.
He was buried at the
National Memorial Cemetery of
Arizona in
Pheonix. He is survived by his wife Teresa.
John
added -- The Grumbach's were our guests at the AWRA
reunion in San
Antonio last October. His picture
is on the reunion Web page
http://www.awra.us/reunion2009-2.html. I
have known Karl since the mid
70's. We served
together at the Navy Yard in Washington D.C. with
ETAC. We both transferred to Scott AFB with ETAC.
Karl later served in
Korea. Karl retired as a
weather forecaster at Nellis AFB in Nevada.
MIKELL, Emory A.,
U.S. Air Force retired Lt. Col.
89, who was born January 10, 1921, in Bartow, Fla.,
died January 18, 2010, in Tampa. In his youth, Emory
moved with his family from Bartow to Tampa. He
graduated from Hillsborough High School and
continued his education at the University of Tampa.
He served 26 years in the Air Force, both as a
pilot, flying "The Hump" in World War II, and as a
meteorologist. He trained at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, serving in the Air Force
weather service branch until his retirement from the
Air Force. Following his retirement, Emory attended
the University of South Florida, where he obtained
his accounting degree and worked as a certified
public accountant for 15 years.
Among his activities, he followed the Masonic Order,
joining the Port Tampa Lodge 153 in 1952, entering
as an apprentice. In 1953, he became a Master Mason.
He was also active in the Scottish Rite where he
advanced to the 32nd degree. He was also honored to
receive the 33rd degree in 1991. He was also a
member of the American Legion Post 135 and Veterans
of Foreign Wars Post 4321 and was a member of
Sojourners. He particularly enjoyed his friendships
with the members of the Tampa Chapter of the Gyro
International Club. Emory was preceded in death by
his first wife, Helen Marie Lynn, in 1953, and his
son Douglas, in 1993. Survivors include his wife of
55 years, Virginia; sons, E. Allen of Orlando, Fla.,
Gregory and Stephen of Tampa; sister, Evanell Pent
of Weeki Wachee, Fla.; grand-children, Amanda, of
West Palm Beach, Fla., Jonathan of Gainesville,
Emory of Winter Park, Fla., Sarah of Lexington, Ky.,
and numerous other family members and friends. He
will be missed by all who knew him. There is solace
in knowing that Emory has slipped his earthly bonds
and now soars again in the clouds. A celebration of
life will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, January
23, at the Blount & Curry Chapel, 605 S. MacDill
Ave., Tampa. This will be preceded by a visitation,
beginning at 10 a.m. Contributions to a favorite
charity in lieu of flowers would be appreciated.
Burial will be held at a later date.
Kenneth C. Spengler
(1915-2010)
 SPENGLER,
Kenneth C. Of Lexington, Jan. 28,
2010. Husband of the late Margaret (Husic)
Spengler. Father of Kenneth C.
Spengler Jr. and his wife Ellen of
Exeter, NH, John D. Spengler and his
wife Carolyn of Watertown, Thomas M.
Spengler and his wife Michele of
Vienna, VA, Mark N. Spengler and his
wife Diane of Arlington, and Stephen
R. Spengler and his wife Sarah of
Vienna, VA. Grandfather of
Daniel, Elizabeth, Matthew,
Sarah, Carrie, Emily, Katelyn,
Rebecca, Lauren, Brittany, and
Tatiana. Ken is also survived by 6
greatgrandchildren and many nieces
and nephews.
Brigadier General U.S.A.F.
(Retired). Executive Director of the
American Meteorological Society
for 45 years. Funeral from the
Douglass Funeral Home, 51 Worthen
Rd. LEXINGTON Monday Feb. 1 at
9:30am followed by a Mass of
Christian burial at
Sacred Heart Church,
Lexington at 11:00am. Relatives and
friends are kindly invited to
attend.
Visiting hours Sunday 3:00 -
7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers,
donations in his memory may be made
to the Spengler Fund at the
American Meteorological Society,
45 Beacon St. Boston, MA 02108 (www.ametsoc.org)
or to the Kenneth Spengler Memorial
fund,
Dickinson College, P.O. Box
1773, Carlisle, PA 17013 (www.dickinson.edu/gift/).
Interment private. Douglass Funeral
Home Lexington
781-862-1800
www.douglassfh.com
Walter Melnik, 88,
of Shetland Lane, Poland, Ohio, passed away Monday
evening, Dec. 21, 2009, at Park Vista of Youngstown
following an extended illness. Walter was born Nov.
24, 1921 in Campbell, Ohio a son of the late Stephen
and Eva Litwin Melnik, and was a lifelong area
resident.
Walt was a 1940 graduate of Campbell Memorial High
School and subsequently served in the U.S. Army Air
Corps during World War II. In the Air Corps, Mr.
Melnik
 attained the rank of Master Sergeant and was
a weather forecaster and hurricane and typhoon
hunter. After serving in the military, Walter
attended Case Western Reserve University and was a
1949 graduate of the Cleveland Engineering
Institute. He also attended the University of
Chicago, where he studied meteorology. Walter worked
as a structural engineer for Boardman Steel for 27
years, retiring in 1989. Previously, he had worked
for Clingan and Frost Architects for 13 years, did
consulting work for Gunner Field airport in
Wisconsin and for Caterpillar Club in Montgomery,
Alabama. Mr. Melnik was a member of the Holy Trinity
Ukrainian Catholic Church in Youngstown, where he
was a member of the church choir and was a lector.
He was also a member of the church council, was a
member of the building committee and was an advisor
to the construction of the St. Anne Church complex
in Austintown. He was also an advisor to the
construction of the Holy Trinity parish shrine
project. For his dedication to the church community,
Walter received the Papal Award for his outstanding
service to the church. Walter was a member of the
Cursillo Movement, the League of Ukrainian
Catholics, the Mahoning-Shenango Alumni Association,
the Ukrainian National Association, and the Ohio
Cultural Society. He was a partner in the Skyway
Lane Bowling Center in Coitsville Township in the
1960s, and was a member of the Holy Trinity - St.
Anne golf league and of the Gaelic Society golf
league. Mr. Melnik was also a member of DAV
Chapter No. 2, was a member of the Air Force
Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association,
and of the Air Weather Association. His wife, Anne
T. Lapin Melnik, whom he married April 20, 1963,
passed away April 23, 2005. Mr. Melnik leaves three
sisters, Anna (Charles) Kihm of Austintown, Olga
Kowalczyk of Lowellville and Maria (Edward) Tirpack
of Campbell; and several nieces and nephews. Walter
will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Peter P.
Melnik, who was killed in World War II in
1945. Interment with military honors was held on 28
December 2009 at the Holy Rosary Cemetery in
Lowellville, where Walter will be laid to rest next
to his wife.
Visit kinnickfuneralhome.com
to view this obituary and to send condolences
online.
Steven Puskar Jr., Col USAF
(Ret.)
90, of
Satellite Beach, Florida died Monday,
November 2, 2009. Col Puskar was the Air
Weather Service
Comptroller from July 70 - July 72 when the
function was abolished. His wife Sylvia died in
1993.
Luke V. Campeau, 89,
of Aurora, Colorado suffered a heart attack and
died, November 3, 2009. He was a Veteran of
World
War II. Served in the
Pacific Theater. He was a member of the Army
Air Corp 15th Weather Squadron and member of
American Guerrillas of Mindanao, Philippines and was
awarded the
Bronze Star. He is survived by his wife -
Fran, children and spouses - Lyn Batcheller of
Sioux
Falls, SD, Sheila Campeau & Mike Mohoric of
Laguna Nigel, CA, Debra Campeau & Steve Hopkins of
Denver, CO, Kris Olinger of Denver, CO, Steve
Campeau & Eric Herrli of
Fort
Lauderdale, FL, Jeff & Kathy Campeau of
Breckenridge, CO and Matt & Margie Campeau of
Louisville, KY. Grandchildren - Paul & Erika
Batcheller, Joe & Shauna Batcheller, Jarrid Campeau,
Clara Rose Campeau, Gracie Campeau, Eli Campeau,
Aaron Hafliger, Adam Hafliger, and AnnaLise Hafliger.
Great grandchildren - Lila Batcheller and Owen
Batcheller. Mass of Christian Burial, was held at
St.
Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Aurora.
Interment was at Fort
Logan National Cemetery,
3698 S. Sheridan, Denver, CO. Luke was an
active Air Weather Association member attending many
of the bi-annual reunions with his wife Fran. He
began his weather career with the 15th Weather
Squadron in the Pacific and kept up with the 15th
and 20th WS Alumni at their annual get togethers.
Luke was a past-president of the A.G.O.M. (American
Guerrillas of Mindanao) Association. Their motto is
-- We Remained 1941-1945.� When the Japanese took
over the Island of
Mindanao, 136 Americans hid in the jungles
instead of surrendering. They survived and
continually harassed the Japanese until Gen.
MacArthur recaptured the Philippines. They were also
joined later by others (including Luke and other
15WS members) who came to the islands by submarine
to provide weather reports and surveillance of enemy
troop and ship activities in preparation for the
return of Gen. MacArthur. Luke attained the rank of
CWO before discharge.
Robert Michael Simpson (1942-2008),
66 died on Monday,
September 15, 2008 at his home in
Grayson, Kentucky. He served in the Air
Weather Service after graduating from Paul G. Blazer
High
School in Ashland, KY. He was a Veteran of
Vietnam. He was a member of the AWA,
American Legion and VFW, a
Cub
Scout leader for many years and a member of
the Baptist faith. Robert worked 32 years as a
meteorological technician for the
National Weather Service, retired from the
Charleston, SC weather forecast office in 1999 and
received many awards for his outstanding service.
After retirement he moved back to his roots in the
mountains of eastern KY. He is survived by his wife
Barbara Walker Simpson; a daughter, Mary Ann Lewis;
Grayson; a granddaughter, Megan Dawn Lewis; and a
great-grandson, Ryland Scott Pfau all of Grayson.
He is also survived by two brothers and three
uncles. Funeral was held in Grayson and Interment
was in Cribbs Hill Cemetery with military honors.
Gary Leon Sickler, Lt Col USAF (Ret.)
(1945-2009)
a loving husband, father, and grandfather, 64, passed
away Monday, Oct 26, 2009, surrounded by family and
friends at his residence in
Weatherford, Texas.
Memorial Service: 11 a.m. Friday, 30 October 2009
at White's Chapel of Memories in
Weatherford.
Gary was born June 6, 1945 in
Cooperstown, New York. Gary enlisted in the
United
States Air Force at the age of eighteen. His
incredible rise through the
enlisted ranks then through the officer ranks,
culminated in his command of the Air Force Combat
Weather Center,
Hurlburt Field, FL. Gary retired in the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel after thirty-three years of
faithful and stalwart service to his country. Having
earned his PhD in Meteorology, he then embarked on his
second career - research scientist and lecturer at his
alma mater,
Texas A&M University in College Station. Upon
retirement, he taught at Embry Riddle University and
Weatherford College. Gary's professional life was
forged by hard work, discipline, and integrity. It was
marked by success, the respect of his peers, and a
reputation for dedication to excellence.
Gary's
personal life was rich with family. He was preceded in
death by his mother, Mary E. Taylor and step-father,
Robert
Taylor. He is survived by his adoring wife,
Kellie Ann Sickler and son, Cody; sister, Kimberly
Taylor; daughter, Lisa Stolt and her husband, Mike; son,
Eric Sickler and his wife, Sherry; son, Joshua Sickler
and his wife, Nichole; beloved grandchildren, Taylor,
Ryan, and Emily Stolt, Savannah and Jake Sickler, Riley
Sickler and Skylar Polansky; nephew, Rocky Matthews and
niece, Rachel Matthews. Nothing brought a smile to his
face and a twinkle to his eye like his family. He was a
dedicated provider, fierce defender, and a hopeless
sentimental. Gary's last years were happily spent
hunting in the mountains of Colorado and adventuring in
his new motor home camping and bass fishing. He will be
dearly missed.
Freeman R. Smith, CWO-4 USAF (Ret.) (1918-2009) passed
away at age 90 on Tuesday, October 20, 2009, at a
Sacramento
area hospital. Interment was at the Sacramento Valley
National Cemetery in Dixon, CA, on October 26th.
Freeman was one of the few remaining retired CWO-4s in
the US Air Force; he retired in 1970 after 28 years of
active service as a military meteorologist. His
post-retirement employment was as a meteorologist with
the California Air Resources Board. He was a
charter member of the AWA and the National Weather
Association and a long-term member of the American
Meteorological Society and many military/veteran's
associations. He will be remembered by many for his
longtime service as the first locator/database
maintainer for the Air Weather Association. The
scope of his efforts as the editor of the AWA world-wide
roster is still seen today. Freeman is survived by
his wife, Teruko/Terry, two adult sons, an adult
daughter, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Cyriaque John Loisel,
Col USAF (Ret.) (1922-2009) passed
away peacefully October 8, 2009 in his home after a
difficult struggle with lung cancer. He was born
June 28, 1922 in the Bronx, NY. He graduated from
Queens College in 1942, St. Louis University in 1952
and M.I.T. in 1961. Colonel Loisel proudly served
in the United States Air Force for 26 years as a
Command Pilot and Meteorologist. In World War II he
flew 100 missions in B-25's and was credited with
sinking six Japanese warships and freighters. In
the Korean War he flew B-29's over North Korea.
During the Vietnam conflict Colonel Loisel was the
Vice Commander of the First Weather Group, Saigon,
South Vietnam. His assignments took him to
California, Morocco, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and
Illinois where he retired in August 1970 as the Vice
Commander, Headquarters Air Weather Service. His
first wife Virginia Loisel preceded him in death in
1992. He is survived by his present wife Carolyn
Loisel of Green Valley, AZ, his daughter Jacqueline
Kittleson, his son John Loisel, four grandchildren
and six great grandchildren. Colonel Loisel will be
interred at the Olivewood Cemetery, Riverside, CA.
Duane R. (Bob) Goodman, Lt Col USAF (Ret.),
(1928-2009), passed away on 14 June 2009. He had been
an RAO volunteer at
McChord
AFB WA for the last fourteen years, and had
served as the RAO
Office
Manager for the last five years. He took on the
leadership role and set a fine example for all RAO
volunteers to follow. Bob will be kindly remembered by
those he worked with and all that he met. Bob was a
graduate of Oregon State and went on to earn a Master’s
Degree from MIT. Bob retired from the Air Force as a
Lt. Col in 1972 and from the
Washington
State Department of Ecology in 1993. Bob Goodman
is survived by his wife Emma and son Steven, daughters
Sharon and Susan and stepchildren Michael, Jean and
Joanne and several grandchildren and
great-grandchildren.
 ALDRICH,
Virginia ''Ginny''
(1920-2009) survived by her
husband, Maj Gen (Ret.) Thomas A. Aldrich former AWS
Commander. A resident of Sacramento for the past
31 years, Virginia Peterson Aldrich, better known as
''Ginny'', was born in Alta , Iowa . She passed away on
September 26, 2009, at age 89. Daughter of Annie and
Marenus Peterson, she graduated from Fairview High
School in 1938 and attended college in Chicago , where
she met her husband Tom Aldrich in 1943. They were
married for 65 years. She is survived by her husband,
daughter Sharon and husband Ralph Lingis, daughter Pam
and husband James Williams, and son Tom and wife Kathy,
three loving grandchildren, Mark Williams, Cliff
Williams, and Meagan Lingis, and great-grandchild Ashlee
Williams. She is also survived by a sister, Helen
Johnson, and predeceased by a sister, Bernice Harding,
plus two brothers, Wesley and Virgil Peterson. Ginny
will always be remembered for her kindness and concern
for others as wife of Major General Tom Aldrich. She
traveled much, residing worldwide and entertaining
gracefully for 36 years while her husband was in the
U.S. Air Force. Among those she hosted were President
Richard Nixon, Secretary of State Dean Rusk,
Presidential Advisor Henry Kissinger, Secretary of
Treasury John Connally and wife Nellie, Marine Corps
Commandant General Chapman, and numerous other foreign
and domestic dignitaries around the world. Ginny had a
talent for quickly making a house into a home - a
necessity as her family moved 35 times during her
husband's career in the military. She was a greatly
admired and respected leader among Air Force wives. As a
general officer's wife she was active in guiding the
Officers' Wives Club and NCO Wives Club. She was also
very involved in overseeing base volunteer family
support functions at all bases under her husband's
command. However, her first priority was always her
husband, children and grandchildren. Ginny was a very
active member of Fremont Presbyterian Church in
Sacramento . She served as an elder, deacon, usher and
greeter. She was well known for using her
greatly-enjoyed talent of calling and writing letters to
assure the sick and troubled that they were being prayed
for and cared about. She was an enthusiastic supporter
of all sports, especially football. She loved to play
bridge. Her many friends and loved ones will always
remember her for the way she deeply cared for people.
She leaves a huge vacuum in the hearts of all who were
privileged to know her. She left the world a better
place during her very active and caring sojourn.
Memorial services will be held at Fremont Presbyterian
Church, 5770 Carlson Drive in Sacramento , Calif. on
October 15th at 11:30AM. Memorial contributions may be
made to the Vision Fund, Fremont Presbyterian Church.
Interment will be at Happy Homestead Cemetery in South
Lake Tahoe , Calif.
Garthel Brett, 79,
passed away Friday, September 4, 2009. She was born in
Lowndes County, GA on January 14, 1930. Garthel lived at
the Indian River Colony Club in Melbourne where she was
an avid golfer and bridge player. She is
survived by her husband of 57 years, Col USAF (Ret.)
Walter R. "Dick" Brett; children, Brenda (Tom)
Cockerham, Carol (Gene) Manley, Dale Brett, William
(Robyn) Brett, Robert (Debbie) Brett; sister-in-law,
Nancy (Nick) Ware; 15 grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren. A funeral service was held at 2:00
p.m. Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at Beckman-Williamson
Funeral Home Chapel in Viera. In lieu of flowers,
please make memorial contribution to Wuesthoff Hospice
Care Center in Melbourne, Florida or the American Breast
Cancer Association.
William "Bill" Cramer, Lt Col
USAF (Ret.), 82, passed away peacefully in
his sleep, July 26, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas.
Bill served in the Air Force as a meteorologist
after graduating from Southwest Texas State Teachers
College and earning a Master's Degree from Texas
A&M. Mike Cohick remembers, "Bill as the
quintessential 2546 serving in places like Eglin,
Kindsbach, Hanscom, and Scott. I met him at Scott
where he was my mentor on the MAC IG. We remained
close friends for over 36 years. He also served at
USAFETAC at Scott. He retired in 1975." In
retirement Bill received the National Weather
Service Special Service award when information from
him allowed their forecasters to issue more precise
area flood warnings in October 1998 and 3 similar
times in 1987, 1991 and 1993. Bill is survived by
his wife, Mary; son, James and his wife, Betty;
daughter, Janet; niece, Nancy Cramer and
sister-in-law, Gazelle Sump. Having never met a
stranger, Bill leaves behind too many friends to
list. He will be dearly missed and forever loved.
Graveside Service was held on Wednesday, July 29,
2009 at 9:15 AM at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery
followed by a Memorial Service at 1 PM at University
United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the
family requests donations in Bill's memory be made
to The Salvation Army, a charity he supported, or to
the senior adult ministries at UUMC.
Sherwin Woodward Jamison, Lt Col USAF (Ret.) 71,
passed away July 24, 2009 at McKay-Dee Hospital in
Ogden, Utah, following a heart attack and surgery.
We'll miss Grandpa's stories. He was born 19 March
1938 in Franklin, Idaho to Vernon C. and Ruth W.
Jamison. From 1958 to 1961 he served as a missionary
in the Brazilian Mission. He earned a B.S. in
Chemistry and an M.S. in Meteorology from the
University of Missouri. He served his country in the
Air Force and Air Force Reserve, retiring as a Lt.
Colonel. After
leaving active-duty in the Air
Force, he worked as a civil servant for TVA and for
the Air Force. He enjoyed family history, and, with
Glora Belle, served in the Family and Church History
Mission and as a ward family history consultant. He
was also a volunteer at the Clearfield Family
History Center. He is survived by his wife Glora
Belle (Forbes) and their three children: Susan
Engberson, Mark, and Eric Jamison; by his mother,
Ruth Jamison; his sister Bonnie Sampson; and
brothers Max, Bruce, and Karl; as well as his
grandchildren Ray and Dallin Engberson, Emily, Luke,
Benjamin, Brigham, Daniel, and Levi Jamison.
Funeral Services were held on July 29th at the
Homestead Ward chapel at 2350 W. 1900 S., Syracuse,
UT with interment following at the Franklin City,
Idaho Cemetery.
THOMPSON, Donald H. SMSgt USAF
(Ret.) July 7, 2009, Don, 61, passed away
peacefully at home surrounded by his family. Preceded in
death by parents Ryno and Inez Thompson. Beloved husband
of Josefina M. Thompson, married 38 years; dear father
of Danny (Marilyn) Thompson, Lynn (Kelly) Kuhlmann,
Marsha (Tim) Thompson-Koors and Melissa Thompson; dear
grandfather of Samantha, Christopher, Mikayla, Brendan
and Dolen; dear brother of Diane Thompson; our dear
brother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle, nephew, cousin and
friend to many. A devoted family man, he had a generous
spirit, a warm heart and a keen sense of humor. He will
be greatly missed and lovingly remembered. Interment was
at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of
flowers, contributions may be made to Pancreatic Cancer
Action Network, www.pancan.org or The Wellness Community
Center, www.wellnesscommunitystl.org. Erik Johnson
remembers, "I knew Don from his work at the 28th Weather
Squadron at RAF Mildenhall, England from 1985 to 1988
where he served with CMSgt Harvey Hurtt."
Edward Allan Town, Lt Col USAF
(Ret.), age 70 of Weston, Texas passed away
July 8, 2009, in Plano, Texas. He was born on August 31,
1938, in Grove City, Pennsylvania to Eugene and
Josephine (Rossi) Town. On December 23, 1995, he married
Sharon Gunn in McKinney, Texas. Mr. Town proudly served
his country in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a
Lieutenant Colonel in 1985. Following his military
retirement, he assumed a career with Rockwell and Boeing
and retired in 2000. Edward became Mayor of Weston,
Texas in 2007. Edward is survived by his wife, Sharon
Gunn-Town; daughters, Mary Heath, Michele Town and
Melissa Zak; 7 grandchildren, 2 nieces and a nephew. A
memorial celebration was held Saturday, July 18, 2009,
at St. Peter's Episcopal Church Parish Hall in McKinney,
Texas. To convey condolences or to sign an online
registry, please visit
www.tjmfuneral.com. Memorials may be made to
the
Volunteer Fire Department of Weston, Texas. Ed
Boselly remembers, "I first met Ed when I was stationed
with the 1st Cav at An Khe in the RVN in 1966. He
came through trying to recruit people to come to "work"
with the Keith Grimes group. It sounded
interesting until I found out I'd have to go to the ARVN
jump school. I decided not to pursue the venture.
Ed was a very nice person and I wish we had been
assigned together somewhere." Dave Ladwig
remembers, "Only worked with Ed a short time at Ft
McPherson GA, but he was a knowledgeable, tactical kind
of guy who would have been right at home in the multiple
deployment environment our weather people have seen in
the last 10 years. He always seemed to wear an
infectious, mischievous grin. He knew who he was.
My best memory is Ed talking about his promotion board
to LtCol. He was absolutely certain that when they drew
the line, he was exactly one position above it;
surprised and grateful for something he never expected."
Carl L Nelson,
age 66, passed away unexpectedly on June 6, 2009. He was
born in Corpus Christi, Texas and graduated from Port
Isabel High School. He earned a degree in meteorology at
Texas A&M. Captain Nelson's Creed: I am an American
Airman. I am a Warrior. I have answered my Nation's
Call. I am an American Airman. My mission was to Fly,
Fight, and Win. I was faithful to a Proud Heritage, A
Tradition of Honor, And a Legacy of Valor. I am an
American Airman. Guardian of Freedom and Justice, My
Nation's Sword and Shield, Its Sentry and Avenger. I
defended my Country with my Life. I am an American
Airman. Wingman, Leader, Warrior. I never left an Airman
behind, I never faltered, And I did not fail. Carl
proudly served his Country in the United States Air
Force for twenty years. Carl then transitioned into
automotive sales for more than twenty years, where he
won many awards. He has been the Fleet & Commercial
Manager at Henna Chevrolet for more than ten years. Carl
is survived by his wife, Jeanette Nelson; his children,
Sonya Cornett (Bubba) and Carl Nelson II (Karin); his
grandsons, Gerry Williams (Samantha), Rowdy Williams,
Carl Nelson III, James Nelson, Cody Cornett, and Dustin
Cornett. He was preceded in death by his parents Gustaf
and Maxine Nelson. He will be missed by all who loved
and knew him. Visitation will be held in the Memorial
Chapel of Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in
Pflugerville, TX, Wednesday June 10 from 5:00 p.m. to
6:00 p.m., immediately following a Memorial Service
celebrating his life from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Interment with military honors at Fort Sam Houston
National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX is tentatively
scheduled for Friday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m. Please make
Memorial gifts to the charity of your choice.
Lt. Col Baldwin L. Troutman Jr.,
USAF retired, father, grandfather, husband and uncle,
passed away peacefully Friday night, May, 29, 2009. He
was 91 years old. Baldwin was in many ways a
larger-than-life figure. A member of the Greatest
Generation, he was born in Fort Valley, Georgia, on Oct.
29, 1917. Baldwin grew up on a plantation near the
Okefenokee Swamp in southeast Georgia. He was hunting
food for the family there from the age of 12, and said
that his mother would cook anything he shot, although
she never found a way to make alligator taste good.
During his time in high school in Albany, Ga., in the
time of the Great Depression, Baldwin worked for a coal
and ice company. After high school, he was a
salesman/driver for Dr Pepper. He enlisted in the
Army (later the Army Air Force) in 1941 and met his
wife, Favorita, in Louisiana during training. He rose
through the ranks, from private to lieutenant in two
years, and spent most of the war in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, as a meteorologist. His first son, David, was
born there. After the war he was sent to the
University of Michigan, where he got a master's degree
in physics and became father to his second son, Mark.
After 24 years in the Air Force working mainly with
nuclear weapons, he retired as a Lt. Colonel and joined
Mitre Corporation. In this period he met his second
wife, Marianne, and later adopted her son, Charles.
At Mitre, Baldwin was the director of an enormous
project building a worldwide telecoms system for the
U.S. military, the biggest project of its kind at that
time. Later he became director of Mitre's training
college. In this period he also became a Mason and
advanced to Grand Master. And he was part of the first
delegation of American scientists to visit China. His
was a life out of the American Dream. After a career
that went from plowing behind a mule and hunting
alligators to satellite-based telecoms, nuclear weapons
and a guest appearance in international diplomacy, he
retired to Newnan, Ga., in 1985. There he devoted
himself to building his dream home and to good works,
working with Marianne for many years in different
capacities for the Newnan Hospital volunteers. He
referred to himself in that period as one of the "pink
ladies." Baldwin was mentally very active until the
end. Although nearly blind, he used the Internet daily
and kept up on the latest developments in the world,
including quantum physics and medicine, by listening to
books sent to him on tape from the Library of Congress.
Baldwin was a Southern gentleman of the old school, a
soldier, a scholar and a scientist. He will be
remembered by all who met him. He will be missed. He
is predeceased by his son, Mark, his second wife,
Marianne Troutman, and his brothers, Thomas and Glenn
Troutman. He is survived by his sons, David and Charles
Troutman, five grandchildren and his first wife,
Favorita Troutman. He will be buried at Arlington on
September 2. A memorial service was held at McKoon
Funeral Home in Newnan, Ga., on Friday, June 5. Don't
send flowers. Give something to someone who needs help
instead, as Baldwin himself did for so many years.
Charles E.
Massey, Lt. Col. USAF
(Retired)
passed May 20, 2009 in Sacramento, California at age 88.
Born in White City, Texas on July 24, 1920, reared
George West, Live Oak County, Texas. Prior to
entering Aviation Cadet Training in 1942, he worked as
an engineer for the Texas Highway Department and U.S.
Engineers. After graduation as a B-17 Navigator,
he went on to Europe, where he flew 35 missions during
World War II. From 1946-1956, he flew as a
Navigator for weather reconnaissance in B-29 aircraft
California to Hawaii and to Alaska, as well as atomic
test at Eniwetok and in Nevada. While in Alaska,
he flew the first weather reconnaissance mission to the
geographic North Pole. On 3 September 1949, Ist
Lt. Massey was a navigator on a B-29 Weather
Reconnaissance flight from Misawa in northern Japan to
Eielson AFB, Alaska. This was a thirteen-hour and
thirty-six minute Loon Charlie mission.
When the debris on the filter papers of that aircraft
were analyzed, it suggested that Russia had detonated an
atomic bomb. This was verified by other flights
following the debris further and from analysts including
J. Robert Oppenheimer. This important highly
classified news was brought to President Truman who
announced publicly to the world on 23 September 1949
that Russia had the bomb. Senior Navigator
Technical Specialist School at Mather AFB, California in
’56-’57 led him to the assignment of Director of
Military Training, Harlingen AFB, Texas (’57-’61);
Director of Training, Randolf AFB, Texas (’61-’65); Base
Commander, K-2 Taegu, Korea (’65-’66); Base Commander,
Fuchu Air Station, Japan of 36 military units, including
Headquarters, U.S. Forces Japan, Fifth Air Force, for
4,000 military and 10,000 dependents (’66-’69).
Arriving back in the U.S. in 1969, Executive Officer, 47th
Air Division, Castle AFB, California (’69-’71); Special
Services Officer and Deputy Base Commander, Castle AFB,
(’71-‘72). Upon retirement, he went on to banking
(Harlingen National Bank, Harlingen, TX ’72-’74) and
then returning to Sacramento, California real estate
(Red Carpet Realtors and Davis & Davis Real Estate).
A life-long member of the Elks Lodge, he held many
positions – a member of the Rat Pack. Legendary
for his storytelling and backyard grilling.
Preceded in death by wife Janice June Pearson Massey,
sisters Norma Elizabeth Massey Hornsby, Norine Leona
Massey Johnson, brothers (infant/unnamed) and William
Smith Massey, III. Survived by his brother Holman
C. Massey, San Antonio, TX; daughters Linda Becker (Hot
Springs, SD) and Colleen Herin (Sacramento, CA), sons
Raymond (Red Bluff, CA) and Colton (Sacramento, CA) and
their spouses/companions Alan Becker, Candi Nichols,
Patti (Hogan) Massey, 7 grandchildren and 7
great-grandchildren. His family and friends will
dearly miss him. He was cremated in Sacramento,
CA. Memorial service with military honors and
internment will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday,
September 19, 2009 at George West Cemetery, George West,
TX. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions
to your local chapter of the American Cancer Society
WILLIAM OSCAR SENTER, LT GEN USAF (Ret.),
1910-2009
William Oscar Senter, 98, died April 19, 2009, at Martin
Memorial Medical Center in Stuart, Florida. He was born
in Stamford, Texas, on 15 June 1910 seven months after
his father was killed in a cattle herding accident,. He
moved with his family to Abilene, Texas, where be
graduated from high school in 1928. After attending
Hardin-Simmons University for a year he entered the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point, graduating in June 1933
and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Coast
Artillery Corps. While at West Point he lettered in
football and lacrosse.
In September 1933, Lieutenant Senter attended flying
school at Randolph Field, Texas, receiving his pilot's
rating a year later and transferred to the Army Air
Corps. Upon graduation, his first station was Langley
Field, Va., where be served with the 20th Bomb Squadron
of the 2d Bomb Group. There, Major Barney M. Giles
selected Lt. Senter as his navigator when the Army Air
Corps took delivery of Boeing's first production B-17
bomber. In 1937, he entered Massachusetts Institute of
Technology for meteorology training, studying under
Carl-Gustav Rossby and Hurd C. Willet. In June 1938, he
served as a weather officer at Maxwell Field, Ala., and
as a weather regional control officer with regional
headquarters at that same station. He was promoted to
Captain (October 1940) and Major (July 1941). On 18
August 1941, he assumed command of the 4th Weather
Squadron at Maxwell.
In January 1942, he was promoted to Lieutenant
Colonel and in June 1942, was assigned to the Army Air
Forces Headquarters in Washington, D.C. as chief of the
Operations Division in the Directorate of Weather and
later an executive officer in November 1942. He was
promoted to Colonel on 21 July 1943. Colonel Senter assumed
command of and organized the Army Air Forces Weather
Wing in Asheville, N.C. when the Directorate of Weather
in Washington D.C. was disbanded in 1943. In March
1945, he was assigned to command the Far East Air Forces
(FEAF) Weather Group (Provisional) on Luzon, Philippine
Islands. He became staff weather officer to Lt Gen
George F. Kenney and later meteorological advisor to
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. The following
September the FEAF Weather Group became the 43rd Weather
Wing which moved to Tokyo, Japan in March 1946
and Colonel Senter commanded it for two years. In
addition to his regular duties, he was also responsible
for the rehabilitation of the Japanese and Korean
weather services and for the establishment of a weather
service within the Ryukyuan Islands.
Colonel Senter entered the Air War College at Maxwell
Field, Ala, in July 1948. Upon graduation a year later
he was appointed deputy chief of the Air Weather Service
at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. On 1 August 1950, he
assumed command of the Air Weather Service and was
promoted to Brigadier General on 4 August. He was
promoted again on 8 March 1952 making him the
first Major General to command AWS.
He was named commander of the Oklahoma City Air Material
Area in May 1954, moving in August 1957 to Headquarters
Air Material Command at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, as
director of Procurement and Production. He was
susequently assigned as the Assistant Deputy Chief of
Staff for Material at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in
August 1959. Promoted to Lieutenant General on 1 August
1963, he was named Director, Petroleum Logistics Policy
in the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Installations and Logistics), Department of Defense.
He retired in 1966.
Significant events during General Senter's tenure as the
sixth AWS Commander include the establishment of the
Severe Weather Warning Center at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma in
1951 and the reorganization of AWS from geographic to
functional support in May 1952.
After his retirement from the military, Lt. Gen. Senter
organized the Natural Gas Supply Association in
Washington, D.C. This organization of natural gas
suppliers was formed to develop stable and continuous
supplies of natural gas energy for the nation. He
retired from that position in 1974.
Lt. Gen. Senter lived in Tequesta and Palm City,
Florida, since 1975. He was preceded in death by his two
wives, Ruth Jane Tinsley Senter (1967) and Carolyn
Fallon Senter (2003). He is survived by two daughters;
Suellen Senter of Oakland, CA, and R. Jane Senter of
Bigfork, MT. Additional survivors include two
grandchildren; Michelle Bolle' of Aptos, CA., and Ken
Bolle' of Felton, CA., and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Treasure Coast
Hospice, 1201 S.E. Indian St., Stuart, FL 34997, (772)
403-4530 or on line at
www.tchospices.org. SERVICES: A memorial service
will be at 11 a.m. May 16, 2009 at the Pavilion at
Sandhill Cove in Palm City, FL.
Inurnment with full military honors occurred at
Arlington National Cemetery on 28 September 2009.Retired Air Force Colonel Walter A. Keils, age 87, died Friday, ApriL 10, 2009, in Newport News, VA. He was born in Cleveland and graduated from
 Cathedral Latin High School, in 1940. He attended Seton Hall University, received a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University, and a Master of Business Administration degree from The College of William and Mary. He was a member of the Cathedral Latin High School Sports Hall of Fame. During his thirty-one years in the Air Force, he served in command, operations and staff positions as a command pilot, a navigator, and meteorologist. His overseas assignments included England, Guam and Germany. His last assignment, prior to retirement, in 1973 was as Commander, 5th Weather Wing, Langley AFB, VA. He flew forty-five combat missions in B-24s in the Southwest Pacific during World War II, with the 90th (Heavy) Bomber Group, "the Jolly Rogers." His decorations included: the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army and Air Force Commendation Medals. He was a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elnora "Skip" Keils and his son, Frederick. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Christine and Charles Vestal of Blacksburg, VA and his sister, Mary Lou Brown and family of Cleveland. Burial with full military honors will be on July 29, 2009, at 12:45 p.m. at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C. PENINSULA FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Fred W.
Decker, Lt Col USAF (Ret.) of Corvallis OR died on 3
April 2009. His wife Charlotte died on 25 March
2009. Article from local newspaper follows -
Community Loses Colorful
Character: Retired OSU prof held strong beliefs
By KYLE ODEGARD
Corvallis, Oregon, Gazette-Times reporter
Fred Decker was a candid,
energetic conservative voice
Fred W. Decker, 91, was known to many people as the founding
father of atmospheric sciences at OSU, colleague Steve Esbensen
said.
Esbensen, a professor emeritus in the College of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Sciences, said Decker helped create strong
undergraduate and graduate programs.
But Decker, a talkative and friendly Oregon native, also was
well-known for his conservative beliefs, and for not shying away
from a political fight.
Decker died a week ago in Corvallis, leaving behind an
accomplished, distinguished, colorful — and sometimes
controversial — legacy.
“He was appointed to the Department of Education by Reagan, and
he was a global warming skeptic,” Esbensen said.
In recent years, Decker sued Oregon for adopting its
vote-by-mail election system, arguing that it violated federal
law. He fought Benton County over same-sex marriage, lobbied
against required diversity classes at OSU and ran for the
Corvallis School Board in 2003 in response to the Boy Scouts
being barred from recruiting in local public schools.
He shared his views with Gazette-Times readers as one of the
regular contributors to the “Letters to the editor” forum.
As dedicated as he was to defending his beliefs, family members
said he was most dedicated to his wife, Charlotte.
The couple married in New York City in 1942, and family members
said they were devoted to each other. After she suffered a
stroke, he took care of her in their home for years until his
own health began to decline.
Charlotte Decker died March 25 at the age of 94. Fred Decker
died on April 3.
Rainy Decker Takalo, 55, of Damascas, joked that after her
mother’s death, her father was nine days overdue in following
her. “He was late for everything,” she said.
Although Decker had the gift of gab, small talk wasn’t his
forte. “Heavens forbid; the guy was a meteorologist, so you
couldn’t even talk about the weather,” Takalo laughed.
Jane Decker, 65, of Tucson, Ariz., said her father was
constantly in “teaching mode,” so conversations often featured
lengthy explanations.
Bill Decker, 60, of Sunnyvale, Calif., remembered his father as
a Boy Scout leader who helped make Troop 142 into an “Eagle
Scout factory,” referring to the highest rank in Scouting.
Annual family vacations often were camping trips at the Oregon
Coast.
During World War II, Decker was called for active duty in the
Army Air Corps to teach meteorology to weather officers, Jane
Decker said. After the war ended, he remained an active Air
Force reservist.
In 1946, Decker joined the Oregon State faculty to teach
engineering physics and expand meteorological classes. Decker
also had research grants from the Army and established a
research radar installation atop Marys Peak in the 1950s. That
later was moved to the north of Corvallis.
Except for a four-year stint in Washington, D.C., Decker and his
wife lived in Corvallis since 1946 — and had the same phone
number. Decker left OSU in 1981, when he was appointed to the
Reagan administration to be the deputy assistant secretary for
research and improvement in the U.S. Department of Education.
Takalo said it was “the dream job for an incredibly conservative
person who was really into education.”
A memorial service honoring Decker is scheduled for 2 p.m. April
18 at Grace Lutheran Church, 435 N.W. 21st St. in Corvallis
Kyle Odegard covers Oregon State University.
PS: Fred and Charlotte enjoyed
the Air Weather Asociation reunions, but for poor health missed
the last few. Fred was also a staunch physicist and reminded
all of the physics base to meteorology any chance he had.
David M. Smith (1921-2009), Morris K. Jesup
Professor Emeritus of Silviculture at Yale University and author
of the world’s most widely used forestry textbook, died in
Hamden, Connecticut, on March 7, 2009, at the age of 87. Born
March 10, 1921 at Bryan, Texas, the son of John B. and Doris
(Clark) Smith; he grew up in Kingston, Rhode Island, and was a
graduate of the University of Rhode Island, receiving a BS in
botany in 1941. During World War II he trained to be an Air
Force meteorologist at New York University and served as a
weather forecasting officer at heavy bomber headquarters in
North Africa and Italy. He retained a lifelong interest in
weather, including (but not limited to) the effect of weather
and climate on forest ecosystems. He was a charter member of
the Air Weather Association. Later at Yale he instituted the
first U.S. instruction in forest meteorology. At Yale
University he received the Master of Forestry in 1946 and PhD in
1950, joining the faculty in 1947. He retired in 1990 after 43
years on the faculty of the Yale School of Forestry and
Environmental Studies. He was an expert on silviculture, the
technology of growing forests. He was the author or co-author of
4 editions of the textbook, The Practice of Silviculture,
which is used throughout North America and, in several
translations, throughout the world, and of numerous research
papers and commentaries on forestry practices. His most
important scientific contributions were in developing the
concept that complex mixtures of tree species can be managed as
even-aged aggregations in which different groups of species
occupy different levels in stratified mixtures and that they
often arise from “advanced “ seedlings that naturally appear
beneath forests. In his 43 years at the Yale School of Forestry
and Environmental Studies he served as an advisor and mentor to
numerous graduate students and directed the management of the
Yale Forests, totaling 12,000 acres of New England forest land.
He was a very popular teacher and an esteemed colleague.
American Forests gave him its Distinguished Service Award in
1990. He was a Fellow of the Society of American Foresters and
received the Distinguished Service Award of its New England
section in 1969 and 1993, the only person to receive this award
twice. In 1986 his forestry efforts in Maine brought him an
honorary Sc. D. degree from Bates College and in 1993 the
University of Rhode Island awarded him an honorary Doctor of
Science degree. In the early 1970s he was silvicultural
consultant for the President’s Advisory Panel on Timber and the
Environment. He was also an advisor to the US Forest Service and
an advisor to government agencies in Australia and British
Columbia. For four decades Smith was either a Director or the
President of both the Connecticut Forest and Park Association
and Connwood Foresters, Inc., the nation’s oldest forest
landowners’ cooperative. He was on the Connecticut Forest
Practices Advisory Board during the 1990s and for many years a
Director of the Hamden Land Conservation Trust. He is survived
by his wife of nearly 58 years, Catherine V. A. Smith, daughters
Ellen D. Smith of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Nancy V. A. Smith of
Carbondale, Colorado, sons-in-law Richard Norby of Oak Ridge and
John Stewart of Carbondale, grandson Karl Norby, and brother
Allen Smith of Hendersonville, North Carolina, as well as by a
niece, nephews, and cousins. A memorial service will be held at
a later date. In keeping with David Smith’s wishes, the family
requests contributions in lieu of flowers to Yale University,
designated for The David M. Smith Forestry Scholarship Fund, to
School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, 195 Prospect Street,
New Haven, CT 06511.
Col (Ret.) Bob Bundgaard just sent in this sad news of
his wife. The obituary was also published today in The (Colorado
Springs) Gazette and on it's Web site at http://www.legacy.com/Gazette/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=122885027
The Web site also has a guest book.
Charlotte Francis
Henriques Bundgaard was born on January 3, 1921 to the
Right
Reverend Hoyt Emanual and Charlotte Weeks Henriques. She died on
January 13, 2009. While she lived 88 years, she was forever
39.Charlotte grew up in Salt Lake City and attended
Westminster College and the University of Utah where she
earned a degree in Mathematics. She also attended Columbia
University and, under the direction of Dr. Irving Lorge,
earned a Master's degree in Statistical Science. During the war
she worked as a Statistical Stress Analyst at Lockheed
Martin. She also taught high school Math at the American
Schools abroad.
She married Robert Clausen Bundgaard on
September 19, 1942. As a “military wife”, she raised a
loving family while moving around the world. She did this
with a sense of humor and grace, moving a family of seven 19
times in a 21 year period.Charlotte was very involved in
many activities: she played Mahjong, was a Life Master in
Bridge, a member of the Retired Weather Wives Association
and former President of the Retired Officers Wives Club.
Charlotte helped in planning the first national reunion for Air
Force weather retirees; it was held in Colorado Springs in
1968; it led to the formation of the Air Weather
Association. She volunteered extensively with the Episcopal
Churches where she lived and was especially proud of her
membership with the Daughters of the King (DOK). She was also
worked (and shopped) at the church Thrift Shop for many
years.
Charlotte loved gardening and always shared her
beautiful flowers and vegetables with her friends and
neighbors. She spent many hours with her children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren in her gardens, sharing
her life's stories.
Charlotte made many friends
throughout her life, being blessed with the ability to see
the positive in everyone and to share her love with all.
She is preceded in death by her brother Douglas Henriques,
Federal Circuit Court of Appeals Judge, her sister Margaret
Henriques Teng, loving Mother and sister, and her
grand-daughter Jenny Thompson, Angel.
She is survived by
her husband Robert C. Bundgaard; children R. Michael (and
Joyce) Bundgaard, Kristine B. Thompson, PhD (and Joe Bachofen),
James H. (and Sondra) Bundgaard, Rebecca “Becky” (and
Walter) Williams, and B. “Peg” Bundgaard (and Jeff Love).
She had 11 grandchildren and 8 (soon to be 9)
great-grandchildren.
Memorial Service will be held at 1
p. m. on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at St. Michael's
Episcopal Church, 7400 Tudor Road, Colo Spgs CO 80919. In
lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pike's Peak
Hospice or to a loving charity of choice.
Black, Rodger Allen, Senior Master Sergeant Retired USAF, age 68, of Midwest City,
OK passed away on Monday, November 17, 2008.
Son of Louis T. and Mary Jane (Wills) Parker
in Huntington, West Virginia, he was born August
4, 1940. He was a meteorologist for the U.S.
Government retiring from the U.S. Air Force
in 1984 and retired from Civil Service at Tinker
AFB in 2004, completing 43 years of service.
Rodger was a member of the V.F.W., Choctaw Lions
Club and nominated "Civilian of the Year" several
times and was awarded the "Civilian of the Year"
award in years 1997 and 2002 for Tinker AFB.
"Mr. Black", as he was known at Tinker, was
living proof that dedication, service, and commitment
to mission and family, were more than just words.
His devotion to his family and the duty he felt
to serve his country were not just philosophies,
they were character traits. While he was an
avid sports fan, especially for his favorite
teams, the OU Sooners and the Ohio State Buckeyes
he also enjoyed playing bingo and growing tomatoes
for his special recipe of hot sauce. He not
only loved to read a great mystery novel, he
enjoyed sharing his books with numerous family
members. But, his passion was always the science
of meteorology. It gave him great pleasure to
educate and inform others about the dynamics
of weather and how it affected so many lives.
Even after his retirement, he was always available
for discussion and to answer questions about
the weather. If you ever heard a severe weather
alarm during his time of service, there was
a very good chance that it was "Mr. Black" who
was sounding that alarm. His steadfast allegiance
to the support of his family and his keen awareness
to his responsibilities as a meteorologist is
a great loss. To say that he will be enormously
missed by all who had the good fortune to know
him would be like saying that an F5 tornado
is just a light breeze. He is survived by one
son, David A. Black of Albuquerque, NM two daughters:
Donna Thompson and husband Ralph Anthony of
ASG Kuwait, and Rhonda Stilwell and husband
Bobby of Euless, TX seven grandchildren: Melissa,
Amanda, Michael, Adam, Jacob, Linda, and Andrew
also four great-grandchildren: Joshua, Destiny,
Connor, and Kayleigh one sister, Deborah Swain
and husband Merle nephews, Brian and Hugh, nieces,
Leslie, Jemmie, and Catie brother-in-law and
sister-in-law, Bill and Aletha Tarkington brother-in-law
Mike Freeman and many other Tinker family members
and friends. He joins in heaven his most beloved
wife, Linda R. Black, his parents and one sister,
LuEllen Parker. A Graveside funeral service
was held on November 20, 2008 at Arlington Memory
Gardens of Midwest City, OK
Carl F. Foster, Lt Col USAF (Ret.),
age 87, of Papillion, Nebraska, died
on October 30,2008. He was born May 25,
1921, in Bell City, Mo., the son of Jesse W.
and Jesse Mae Wheeler Foster. He was preceeded
in death by mother, father and 3 brothers. Survived
by brother Kenneth Foster, Bell City, MO; sister
in law - Nedra Foster, Tulsa, OK; nephews John
& Lowell Foster & their families, Kansas City,
KS, Clifton Foster, San Francisco, CA; niece
Carol Foster, Albuquerque, NM; best friend Rosemary
(Pat) Herron, Bellevue. He served as a
navigator in the U.S. Air Force during WWII
and eventually became a weather officer, retiring
as a lieutenant colonel. As a young man, he
was invited to try out as a pitcher for the
St. Louis Browns. Col Ken German recalls
-- I first met Carl at Moses Lake AFB.
We were stationed together at Torrejon forecast
Center and we followed up going to advanced
meteorological training at the University of
Washington. Carl then spent several years
in Special Projects at the AF Global Weather
Central. Carl was a good friend and a
great person to work with. Visitation
occurred on November 2nd at the Bellevue NE
Memorial Chapel. Visitation will also
occur from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Morgan
Funeral Chapel in Advance, MO. Services will
immediately follow, with the Rev. Andy Lambed
officiating. Interment will be with full military
graveside rites at Pleasant Hill Cemetery near
Advance. Memorials to the American Heart
Association.
Hal Robert (Montie) Montague,
Colonel USAF (Ret.), age 87, passed peacefully
away on Oct. 18, 2008, in Tallahassee, Fla.
Montie and his wife JoAnn moved to Tallahassee
in August 2008 to be near family. They lived
in Sandestin, Fla. from 1996 up until their
move to Tallahassee. He retired as a colonel
from the U.S. Air Force in 1973. He received
his bachelor of science and master of science
degrees (1961) in meteorology from Florida State
University. Montie is survived by his
wife of 66 years, JoAnn of Tallahassee; daughter,
Judee Pouncey of Tallahassee; daughter, Susan
Youngblood of LaGrande, Ore.; grandchildren,
Alexis Gaston (husband Mel) of Tallahassee,
Charles Cogswell of Sarasota, Beth Youngblood
of Champaign, Ill., and Bern Youngblood of Northfield,
Minn.; and great-grandsons, Carlos Gaston of
Tallahassee and Reese Cogswell of Sarasota.
Member Gene Pfeffer relates that -- Montie was my first commander
when I reported for duty at Patrick AFB in 1965
after basic met. He also was the one who
retired me at Scott AFB in 1994. We became
close friends over the years and he was a key
influence on me as I moved along my AF career.
He was professional and dedicated while on duty,
a heck a partier when not, and a patriot always.
Montie was a WWII vet who entered the Army in
1940 as a private, rose through the enlisted
ranks, and held just about all of them.
He was commissioned in 1943 as an armaments
officer and got his wings in 1944, serving in
the Pacific as a troop/cargo carrier pilot through
the end of the war. He joined the weather
business in 1948 and was a proud alumni of Florida
State Univ. He served in the Korean War
and in Viet Nam. After his tour at
Patrick AFB, he was the Air Weather Service
IG, and then became the MAC Director of Administration
before retiring from the USAF in 1973.
Over a couple of Martinis I was able to get
Montie to talk about some of his WW II experiences
including his flying cargo missions for on-the-deck
cargo drops for the Marines fighting on Iwo
Jima. For a time Montie was in the same squadron
as famous actor (and WWII hero) Jimmie Stewart.
I also learned during one of these lubricated
chats that he'd been checked out in 24 different
airplanes over the course of his flying career
including the C-46, C-47, B-29, C-124, B-26,
C-130, SA-1, B-50, B-25, KC-135, and even the
CG-4A WWII glider. After retiring from
the Air Force, Montie and wife JoAnn lived
for a time in Lebanon, IL outside Scott AFB,
moved to Louisville, KY (where we had some great
Kentucky Derby parties). He taught and was Director
of Admissions for McKendree College, and moved
to Louisville to open their remote campus there.
He also served as the Community Relations Director
of Webster University from 1986 to 1996.
He retired to Sandestin, Fla. in 1996.
In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions may be made to Covenant Hospice,
1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 102, Tallahassee,
FL 32308. Memorial services will be held on
Friday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. at The Community
Church of Santa Rosa Beach, 3524 Highway 98
West, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
A guestbook is available online at
http://www.legacy.com/nwfdailynews/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=119128630
Dale J. Flinders, Colonel USAF
(Ret.) passed away Friday, September 19, 2008
in San Antonio, Texas. Dale was born on October
4, 1917 in Cherokee County, Iowa to Lawrence
G. and Laura Flinders and educated in Iowa,
unknowingly 60 miles from his beloved future
wife Nadine Lindquist. Dale showed great determination
throughout his full life. Having sung with Nadine
at the high school state music contest, he remembered
her again when he saw her from a street car
at Morningside College where they both
were students. They shared one date and then
were separated by fate, Nadine to graduate school
and Dale to teach high school science in Burma.
Driven out by the Japanese in '42, Col. Flinders
worked his way back to NYC and their paths criss-crossed
for years. Soon Dale was drafted and sent to
MIT to major in meteorology…and finally in '43
they were married and he and Nadine moved to
Boston and began singing throughout their lives
together! At his request, Dale was reassigned
to Burma in '44 with the British Infantry under
General Festing, and Nadine returned to Texas
to continue her music teaching at what is now
the University of North Texas. It would be 3
years before they met again after the war, in
Japan, where Dale was newly assigned. During
the next two years, Col. Flinders served in
various positions including Commander of the
1st Mobile Weather Unit attached to the 36th
Indian Infantry in Burma; Weather Detachment
Commander, Lunghwa Airfield, Shanghai; Liaison
Officer to Burma Meteorology Dept., Rangoon;
Commander India-Burma-Thailand area of the 10th
Weather Region; Weather Detachment Commander,
Peking, China. From '47-'48, Col. Flinders was
Operations Officer, 20th Weather Squadron, Nagoya,
Japan.
Dale's career took off in March 1948
as Academic Instructor with the Department of
Weather Training, moved to Washington, DC as
Special Assistant and later as Deputy Director
of Climatology in November 1952, and then on
to Morocco as the Deputy Commander of the 29th
Weather Squadron in August 1955. In September
1958, Dale assumed command of Detachment 3,
3rd Weather Wing at Vandenberg AFB, CA and was
also Staff Meteorologist to 659th Aerospace
Test Wing. His role as Staff Meteorologist continued
in October 1965 at the AF Satellite Control
Facility at Sunnyvale, California, until August
1966 when he assumed command of the USAF Environmental
Tech Application Center in Washington, DC. In
July 1968, Dale was selected as Commander of
AF Cambridge Research Labs, L.G. Hanscom Field,
Massachusetts. His career culminated in July
1971 as Director of Aerospace Sciences, Air
Weather Service at Scott AFB, Ill.
Dale's
military decorations include the Legion of Merit,
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force
Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit
Award with one oak leaf cluster, and the Asiatic
Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze service
stars. He also held the Master Missileman Badge.
He was a member of the American Meteorological
Society, and Sigma Pi Sigma, Physics Honorary
Society.
Dale is proceeded in death by his
older brother, Horace Flinders. Dale is survived
by his beloved wife, Nadine of 65 years and
by sons, Val Eric and wife, Toni of Kodiak,
Alaska, and Bradley Terence, and his wife, Nancy
of Bulverde, Texas. He is also survived by grandchildren:
Kacie and John Sandoval, Kyle and Meagan Flinders,
Monica Flinders, Shanna and Brian Flaten, Alexandria
and Kyle Alexander, and great grandson, Louis
Alexander. Col. Flinders also leaves sisters,
Betty Hughes and Norma Alexander, all of
Iowa, and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial
contributions be made to your favorite charity
or to Freedom House Research Fund. Please make
check payable to Air Force Villages Charitable
Foundation of AFVCF. A Memorial Service was
held on Thursday, Sep. 25, 2008 and burial at
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Phyllis J. Dalton,
77, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. and Boise, Idaho
passed away in Boise, Idaho at home on Sept. 14,
2008 after a sudden illness. She was born to Albert
and Caroline Hund on Jan. 20, 1931 in Vista, Calif.
Phyllis and her husband, Leonard, were married on
November 23, 1950 at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento,
Calif.
Her husband, Leonard M. Dalton, CMSgt (Ret.)
passed away on Jan. 12, 2007. Phyllis
raised four children while traveling with Leonard
during his service in the United States Air Force
for 20 years. After Leonard's retirement in 1968,
Phyllis and Leonard moved to Pingree, Idaho where
they farmed and raised cattle. Phyllis was always
busy on the farm, whether it was baling hay in the
early morning hours or preparing a meal to take
out to the fields. She always provided a loving
home for all of her family and still found time
to meet with her friends for their weekly bowling
outing. Phyllis enjoyed the friendship of many while
lunching with her Ham radio friends, playing Bunko
with her girl friends and attending activities at
the Senior Citizens Center in Lake Havasu City.
She was an active member of the Our Lady of Lake
Catholic Church, the Red Hats Society and welcomed
new residents to Lake Hasavu City as a Welcome Wagon
Hostess. Her hobbies include making quilts, oil
painting, rock hounding in the desert and gardening.
Her home was always full of beautiful plants and
flowers. She is survived by four children, Gary
Dalton (Louise), Linda Albi (Todd), Don Dalton (Linda),
and Chere Parker (Cody); one sister, Dorothy Frei;
two brothers, David and Robert Hund. She is blessed
with 10 grandchildren, Julie, Jenelle, Dawn Marie
and John Dalton, Sarah, Maiah, Keegan, and Colin
Albi and Ian and Isaac Parker; and one great-grandchild,
Taylor David. Phyllis will always be remembered
as a loving and forever giving wife, mother, grandmother
and friend to all. Graveside inurnment services
will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise, Idaho.
Memorial contributions may be made to your local
Hospice organization. Services are under the direction
of Cloverdale Funeral Home. Condolences for the
family may be submitted online at
www.cloverdalefuneralhome.com.
Kauper, Erwin Karl,
Lt Col (Ret.),
born in Burgkunstadt,
Germany on March 25, 1921 to Ursula Rose and George
Kauper, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2008
in Covina, CA. Erwin emigrated to the US before
the age of 3, and lived in the Los Angeles area
ever since. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1943,
training as a meteorologist at the University of
Washington and UCLA. He remained in the Reserves
after WWII for many years, attaining the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel by the time he retired. He cultivated
his experience as a weather officer and into a lifelong
career and avocation in meteorology.
His pioneering work
during the 1950’s with the Los Angeles County Air
Pollution Control District identified the internal
combustion engine as a significant cause of pollution
and laid the cornerstone for the air quality control
measures that ultimately evolved. Erwin became a
Certified Consulting Meteorologist and a registered
Professional Engineer, and eventually founded Metro
Monitoring Services, which provided weather observation
services to the federal government. With the acquisition
of Allied Weather Consultants in 1984, he provided
forecasting and climatology services to the movie
and television industry.
Ever the meteorologist,
Erwin entered and won the grand prize of $50,000
in the 2001 Aquila forecasting competition at the
age of 81. The award, presented by one of the largest
energy wholesaling and risk management companies
in North America, was for making the most accurate
probabilistic temperature forecasts for 13 US cities.
Along with his meteorology,
Erwin loved everything about nature and every back
road he could find. His spirit of adventure was
unquenchable. In the last few years, his travel
highlights included a trip down the coast of Mexico
to experience up-close and personal encounters with
whales and their babies; a visit to Ellis Island
in NY City where he found his own name and those
of his parents on a ship manifest; and a visit to
his beloved relatives in Germany.
Erwin was preceded in
death by his first wife of 61 years, Flora, son
Russell, and sister Betty. He leaves his wife Doris,
sons Ross and Martin, daughter Dena, and friends
and family too numerous to mention. He was a sincerely
just and upright man who will always be deeply loved.
A celebration of Erwin’s
life will be held at noon on Saturday, October 4,
2008 at Christ Lutheran Church, 311 S. Citrus, West
Covina, California.
For more information
on Erwin, see:
http://samhenderson.livejournal.com/
for Wednesday, August 27th, 2008
9:24 am Erwin
Kauper 1920 - 2008
and page 2 of
http://www.nwas.org/newsletters/pdf/news_jan2002.pdf
ELDRIDGE, Arthur C., Lt Col (Ret.),
''Art or Archie', Jan. 1, 1916 - July 26,
2008 --
Entered into rest at the age of 92 in
Sacramento, Calif. Beloved husband of Fledra for
68 years. Born in Nogales, AZ to James & Charolette
Eldridge. The family later relocated to CA where
Art graduated from San Jose State, then joined the
Merchant Marines and US Army Air Corps during WWII
as a Navigator/Bombardier, serving in China Burma,
India (CBI), where he received the Distinguished
Flying Cross, National Defense Medal, WWII Air Commendation
Medal, & the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal. Retiring
from the US Air Force after 20 years as a Meteorologist,
he then began a career working for the State of
CA for 27 yrs., finally retiring from the State
Military Reserve as a Lt. Col. Preceded in death
by his parents, brother Richard, and sisters Mary
Mueller and Shirley Dick. Survived by his sister
Ina Jebb, daughters Charleene Naughton and Norma
Eldridge, grandson Brian Hendricks (Heather), great
granddaughters Taylor & Brooklyn Hendricks, & numerous
nieces & nephews. In lieu of flowers, please make
contributions to snowballexpress.org or the charity
of your choice.
Gordon W. Schmal, Col USAF (Ret.), died on
Saturday, July 26, 2008 in Gainesville, FL. He was born
in Mancelona, MI on March 12, 1921 and grew up in St.
John and Hammond, IN. He and Mary Elizabeth Thomson
were married April 10, 1944 in All Saints Church in
Hammond. Col. Schmal completed Cadet training in 1942
and Pilot school in 1943. He flew 50 missions in a B-17
over North Africa and Italy in WWII. He was a member
of the 2nd Bomb group and separated from active duty
in 1946. He returned to school and graduated from St.
Louis University in 1948 with a Bachelor's degree in
Aeronautical Technology. He then returned to active
duty and completed Weather Officer's School and went
to Korea for 16 months. He was then assigned to Warner
Robins, Georgia and from there he was sent to Wiesbaden,
Germany. In 1960, Col. Schmal was assigned to Battle
Creek, MI and from there to Jet School in TX. In 1963,
he was assigned to Colorado Springs, CO and two years
later, he went back to Korea for a year. His next assignment
was Scott AFB, IL and after four years, he was sent
to Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he was able to see his
son, Tom, who was on duty with the U.S. Marines in Dong
Ha. A year later, he was transferred to NORAD in Colorado
Springs, CO and then to the Pentagon in Washington,
DC and Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, LA before retiring.
Gordon attended LA Tech University where he obtained
a Masters degree in Counseling. He went on to study
and obtained a license from H&R Block Tax School. In
1994, he and Mary moved to Newberry to be near their
daughter, Laura Davis. He was an avid reader, a great
golfer, and a devout Catholic. Col. Schmal worked with
Catholic Charities in Shreveport and the Harvest program
in Gainesville. He was a member of Queen of Peace Catholic
Church. Col. Schmal was preceded in death by his son,
Robert Gordon Schmal; parents: Will and Martha Schmal;
three brothers: Ralph, Frank and Dick. He is survived
by his loving wife, Mary; sons: Thomas (Bridget) of
Houston and James of Santa Cruz, CA; daughters: Mollie
Clinkenbeard (Brad) of Lewisville, TX, Laura Davis (John)
of Gainesville, Anita Melson (Lars) of Colorado Springs,
CO and Nancy Vetters (Vic) of Burlington, VT; 14 grandchildren;
three great grandchildren; sister, Wilamine Tompkins
of Schererville, IN; and old friend and brother-in-law,
Bob Thomson of Munster, IN. A Funeral Mass will be held
Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Queen of Peace
Catholic Church with Fr. Ron Camarda officiating. Visitation
and the Rosary will be in the Church Chapel Friday from
6:00-8:00 p.m. Interment at Forest Meadows Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Colonel
Schmal's name to St. Francis House, 413 S. Main Street,
Gainesville, FL 32601. A guestbook is available at http://www.legacy.com/NWITimes/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=114518661
Graham, Jack Montgomery, Lt Col USAF (Ret.),
85, of Tyler, Texas, a former public works director
and retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, passed
away on July 17, 2008, at a Tyler hospital.
He
was born Jan. 18, 1923, in Dallas to the late Charles
Herbert and Martha Jane Graham. Col. Graham was
a 1945 graduate of Southern Methodist University
and proudly served his country in the United States
Air Force. He was the former public works director
for the city of Fort Worth and Corpus Christi from
1966-1983. Col. Graham was a 32nd degree Mason and
a member of the First Christian Church in Lindale.
He was actively involved with the Boys Scouts of
America as a troop leader.
In addition to his
parents, Col. Graham was preceded in death by a
son, Charles R. Graham.
Survivors: A loving family
including his wife of 63 years, Doris M. Graham
of Tyler, formerly of Fort Worth; and son, Richard
B. Graham, also of Tyler.
William Edward Zimmermann, Lt Col USAF (Ret.),
95, died July 16, 2008 in Amarillo, Texas. Bill
was promoted to Lt Col during the Korean War and retired
in 1960 after completing 25 years of military service.
He and his young family then moved to Albuquerque, NM,
and began his second career, which was to span 14 years
as a meteorologist with the US Weather Bureau.
In 2001, he and his wife Olive moved to Amarillo to
be closer to their daughter. His wife, Olive,
preceded him in death on June 6, 2008. After a
funeral Mass at Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
in Amarillo, Bill was buried at the Santa Fe National
Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM. The family request that
memorials be made to the Eveline Rivers Christmas Project,
314 South Jefferson, Amarillo, TX 79101.
Douglass
D. Shaffner,Lt Col (Ret). 89, of Tempe, Arizona passed
away on July 11, 2008. Doug was a native of Bliss, New York
and a graduate of Houghton College. He was drafted into
the United States Air Force in 1942. Doug served for 25
years; the majority of the time as a meteorologist. He traveled
throughout the United States and overseas accompanied by
his wife, Lora, and three children. After retirement in
1967, Doug worked in the computer industry in Phoenix. In
1985, he moved with his wife Lora to Friendship Village.
After Lora's death, Doug married and is survived by his
second wife Edna, two children, David (Marian) Shaffner
of San Francisco, and Donna (Tandy) Hamilton of Goodyear
and step-daughters, Lois Cassano, and Lila (Steve) Allgeier,
from Virginia. He was pre-deceased by his son, Douglass,
Jr. Doug leaves eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM, Sunday, July
20, 2008 at Friendship Village Skirm Auditorium, 2645 E.
Southern Ave., in Tempe, a graveside service will be held
at 10:30 AM, Monday at the National Cemetery, 23029 North
Cave Creek Road, Phoenix. Published in The Arizona Republic
on 7/18/2008
HULL, Elsie D. "Dee," 89 of Fernandina
Beach, Florida died on July 7, 2008 after a brief illness.
She was born May 9, 1919 in Bournemouth, England.
She was predeceased by her husband Col USAF (Ret.) Arnold
Hull in 1976. She is survived ny her son, Robert (Sheila)
Hull, and daughter Carol (Paul) Condit, both of Fernandina
Beach; two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held at St Peter's Episcopal Church
in Fernandina and she was interred at Arlington National
Cemetery on 13 August next to her husband. In lieu
of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Community
Hospice of Northeast Florida or the American Cancer Society.
Eugene Talmadge Blanton, Col USAF (Ret.)
died on June 15, 2008 at his home in Sacramento CA after
a lengthy illness. Born in Talbotton, GA in September
1921 he entered the Army Air Forces in WW II for training
as a Flight Engineer in the B-29. He left active duty
after the war and reentered Georgia Tech where he graduated
with an Electrical Engineering degree in 1946. While
attending Tech, he rose to be the president of his fraternity,
Phi Gamma Delta, Gamma Tau Chapter. He later wrote that
GA Tech "provided a highway for all my success and accomplishments."
Subsequently he was employed with the Boeing Company before
returning to the Air Force in 1948 for training at Chanute
AFB as a Weather Officer. His first assignment as
a forecaster in Air Weather Service was in Japan.
Subsequent Weather Officer duties took him to Shaw
AFB, Wiesbaden Germany, Langley AFB, and Vietnam.
Upon promotion to Colonel he was reassigned as a Civil
Engineer with various Air Force units at Scott AFB, Travis
AFB, Osan Korea, and Kelly AFB. He retired from the
United States Air Force as a Colonel in 1977. His
last assignment was as the Chief Civil Engineer for the
Western Region of the Air Force with his office in San Francisco,
CA. After retirement he was employed as a Professional
Engineer for the Spink Corp in Sacramento and retired again
in 1983. During that time he obtained his Professional
Engineer Certification. At age 65 he went back to school,
graduated with honors, and received his Masters Degree in
Business Administration. Gene played golf for many years
and also achieved the rank of Life Master in the bridge
world in 1995. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Nancy,
and his six children, Lindy, Deborah, Lowry, Patti, Bobby
and Susan, 18 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and
his sister, Betty Petree of Bethlehem, GA. He was
interred on July 2, 2008 at the VA Cemetery near Dixon CA.
Virginia I. Miller (Ginny), died on June 22, 2008.
Ginny was a beautiful and gracious lady in life. She dearly loved
her three daughters Priscilla, Cheryl, and Joanne and was
a loving wife to her husband, Bob, for 55 years. Ginny will
be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
Robert E. Miller CMSgt (Retired)
417 Erin Drive
Fairview
Heights. IL 62208-3727
Ben Howard Houston, Lt Col (Ret.), 86, passed away May 18, 2008
at Pikes Peak Hospice, Colorado Springs, Colorado, after a long
battle with cancer. He was born December 19, 1921 in Frankston,
Texas to Mack and Allie Houston. Ben married our mother, Helen K.
Miller in 1942, and they were together for more than 52 years. Dad
enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941, advancing through all the
ranks, until receiving his commission. He always joked that "he
was the youngest Chief Warrant Officer in the Air Force and the
oldest second Lieutenant." Dad completed his M.S. degree in Meteorology
at Texas A&M University in 1962. Mom and Dad thrived on Air Force
life, traveling the globe; our family life was always an adventure.
They turned every tour of duty into a great time, acquiring along
the way a multitude of life-long friendships. We have happy memories
of Newfoundland, sledding through 20-foot snow drifts in the winter
and picking berries on the hillside in summer; we won't forget the
beautiful hydrangeas all over the Azores, Portugal, and the wonderful,
extended "morale leave" trip to Europe. Most stateside assignments
were in Dad's home state of Texas, but it was forever Mom and Dad's
dream to be transferred and eventually retire in beautiful Colorado.
Dad finally received orders for ENT Air Force Base in 1964. Eventually
he worked at NORAD, helping to set up the weather station at that
facility, and he later became a mathematics professor at the U.S.A.F.
Academy before retiring in 1971, at which time he received the Meritorious
Service Medal. Dad was a perfectionist throughout his life and always
the excellent teacher. He was our counselor and confidant; even
the neighborhood teens loved to drop in for a chat, especially if
they needed advice. Dad could "spin a yarn a mile long" and never
forgot any details about his life. He loved big family dinners at
Sandy's and long conversations with Bruce that lasted until 2:00
or 3:00 in the morning. And, more recently, he loved the dreams
of seeing Helen in a beautiful park, asking him what was taking
so long. Dad was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; his parents,
Mack and Allie; his brother, Guy; his brother, Dan; his sister,
Agnes; his sister, Ethel; and most recently his baby sister, Dottie.
Dad is survived by his children, Bruce James Houston of Fairfax,
California and his daughter, Sandra Kay Brightwell of Colorado Springs;
his daughter-in-law, Mary; and Bruce and Mary's two children, Jenna
and Tanner; his son-in-law, Dr. Nathan L. Brightwell; and Nate and
Sandy's three children, Todd, Jason, and Angela. A memorial service
was held at Swan Law Chapel on Sunday, May 25, 2008 and burial with
full military honors took place at Evergreen Cemetery on Tuesday,
May 27, 2008. Contributions may be made in Ben's name to Pikes Peak
Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
Clark Steadmam Pinder, Lt Col USAF (Ret.),
69, of Cocoa, Florida, lost a very tough battle with cancer
on 15 May 2008. He was born in Key West, Florida on 11
January 1939. He graduated from Florida State University
with a degree in meteorology in 1961 and entered the USAF Air
Weather Service. His assignments included: Blytheville
AR, Hickam HI, Scott IL, Ft. Rucker AL and two tours at Langley
VA. He retired at 5th Weather Wing headquarters in Langley AFB,
VA in 1989 after 28 years of great service. He continued
great weather support service in a civilian capacity at 45th
Weather Squadron at Patrick AFB, Florida as a deputy launch
weather officer-radar supporting Cape Canaveral and Kennedy
Space Center and retired from that in 2004. He is survived
by his wife, Gail Stromire Pinder; his son, Chris Pinder (Beth)
of Poquoson, VA; his daughter, Melissa Lamp (Garrett); his son,
Scott Bohannon (Lee Anne) of Alexandria, VA; his brother Joey
Pinder of Key West; and eight grand children. In lieu
of flowers, donations may be made to Links of Hope, 1535 North
Cogswell St., Suite C20, Rockledge, FL 32955. A celebration
of Clarks life will be held at the chapel at Wylie-Baxley Funeral
Home in Rockledge on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 6 p.m.
Butler, George S., Lt Col (Ret.), 89, Salina,
KS., passed away Thursday, May 8th, 2008. He retired from
the US Air Force in May of 1962, and the FAA as a Flight
Inspector in 1987. A funeral service was held on May
12, at the Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home with graveside
services at the Prairie Mound Cemetery, Solomon, KS.
Calvin Naegelin, Lt Col USAF (Ret.), age 63, died Monday,
May 5, 2008, at his residence in Papillion, NE. He was born
Sept. 22, 1944, in Hermann to the late Erwin and Bernice Naegelin.
Mr. Naegelin retired from the Air Force after serving for 25
years on active duty. Then he worked for five years in civil
service, and taught meteorology at Creighton University in Omaha,
Neb., for the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and Grace University.
He was a certified consulting meteorologist (#548) with American
Meteorological Society and ran Weathervane Consultants. He was
also a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society of England
and a charter member of the National Weather Association. Mr.
Naegelin received his masters degree in Meteorology in 1974,
and his ham radio was WD9APU. He was preceded in death by parents
and a brother, Richard Naegelin. He is survived by his wife,
Shirley, of Papillion, Neb.; a son and daughter-in-law, Conrad
Naegelin and Helen of Canton, Mich.; grandchildren, Emily and
Lotus; sister Gloria Wagstaff of St Louis; two nephews, Robert
Wagstaff of St. Louis, and Tim Naegelin of San Francisco, Calif.
A graveside service was held Friday, May 9, at Cedar Dale Cemetery,
Papillion, Neb. A memorial service was held Friday, May 9, at
the Community Bible Church, Omaha, Neb. Memorials to Wycliffe
Bible Translators or Ne. Humane Society. Guest book is
at
http://www.legacy.com/Omaha/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=109160741
Church, James F. Lt Col USAF (Ret.),
84, died April 18, 2008, at Frisbie Hospital in Rochester after
a period of failing health. Better known to his family
and friends as Jim, he was born May 15, 1923, in Cadillac, Mich.,
to F. Marshall Church and Eleanor (Baker) Church. After graduating
from Midland High School in Michigan, he entered Michigan State
University as a chemistry major. After two years there, he joined
the Army Air Corps, attended the Weather Officer Course and
graduated as a second lieutenant weather officer. He served
in the China, Burma, India Theater as a forecaster on the "Humps"
route to China. He was also the liaison officer to the Royal
Thai Weather Service in Bangkok, Thailand, where he assisted
in training their weather officers and re-establishing the Thai
Weather Service. For his efforts, he was awarded the Royal Thai
Wings by a grateful Thai government. In 1947, he returned
to the United States and civilian life. He was sent to Pittsburgh,
Pa., to work on the Dow Corning Fellowship at Mellon Institute
of Industrial Research. He met his wife, Dorothy Newhouse, while
finishing his degree in chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh.
In 1949 he received his bachelor of science in chemistry and
entered graduate school there.
In 1950, when the Korean War broke out, he volunteered to return
to active duty. After extensive training in high altitude forecasting
and climatology and receiving an M.S. in meteorology from the
University of Chicago, he was sent to Japan where he served
as chief of the Climatology Division at Tokyo Weather Central
until 1955. When he returned home, he was stationed briefly
in Illinois and then to Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories
(AFCRL) at Hanscom Field in Bedford, Mass., where he remained
for 16 years, interrupted for one year for a tour of duty Vietnam.
AFCRL was, by far, his most interesting work. Using a C-130
as a flying laboratory, he studied the clouds, hurricanes, tornadoes,
storms and weather instrumentation on planes. In 1976
after 33 years of military service, he retired to Dover, where
he pursued his hobbies ; gardening, deer, pheasant and duck
hunting, fly tying, fly fishing and teaching science as a substitute
teacher in local high schools. He is survived by his wife
of 58 years, Dorothy; by his son, James, and wife, Samantha,
and their son, Jeremy, of Lebanon, Maine, and daughter, Mary
Ann, of Dover and her children, Patrick and Janelle; and numerous
nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, F. Marshall
Church, by his mother Eleanor Grinnell Church, his stepfather
Wm. Harrison Grinnell and by his brother, John Church, all of
Midland, Mich. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made
to the Homemaker Health Services, of 215 Rochester Hill Road,
Rochester 03867 and to the Rochester Manor at 40 Whitehall Road,
Rochester, NH 03867.
Billy D. (Rich) Richardson SMSGT
USAF(Ret.), passed away on April 3, 2008 in Omaha, NE at the age
of 70. Rich had lived in Bellevue, NE for the past 30 years or so.
He had been assigned to AFGWC and then spent a year in Korea with
me in 1982-1983 as my Station Chief. Rich retired as a SMSgt in
Oct, 1986 after 28 years service and he and his wife, Janet, continued
to reside in Bellevue. Rich worked as an Observer at Eppley Airport
in Omaha for a short time and then worked as a manager for RBG Corporation
until his retirement in 2002. Rich and I were stationed together
at Clark AB, Philippines(1963-1964) and at Kunsan AB, ROK (1982-1983).
Rich was my good friend and one hell of an NCO. Submitted by Bob
Borchers. Rich is survived by his wife, Janet; daughters, Jill and
husband Ron Albers, Bellevue, Emma Kolvek, Bellevue, son-in-law,
John Kolvek, Lawrence, KS; 5 grandchildren, Nicholas, Jack, Gabriel,
Lillie and Drew. Funeral service was at St. Mary's Catholic Church,
Bellevue. Interment Bellevue Cemetery.
Anthony Aiken "Tony"
Pearson MSgt USAF (Ret.), 51, husband of Deborah Stout Pearson,
died Sunday, March 30, 2008, at Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia
SC. Born in Douglas, Ga., he was a son of the late Benajah Pearson
and the late Leona Carver Pearson. Mr. Pearson was a member of Springbank
Baptist Church and the Goldwing Road Riders Association. He retired
from the U.S. Air Force after 24 years, was a veteran of Operation
Desert Storm, and was employed by the 28th Operational Weather Squadron
at Shaw Air Force Base as a civilian trainer. Survivors include
his wife of Dalzell; three children, Shea Hardy of Opelika, Ala.;
David Pearson of Mobile, Ala.; and Heather Spears of Port Barre,
La.; five grandchildren; three brothers, Jim Pearson and Joseph
Pearson, both of Goose Creek, and Stan Pearson of Merritt, R.I.;
and two sisters, Mary Clara Shultz of Winter Park, Fla., and Ruth
Sapp of Denton, Ga. Memorial services with full military honors
were held at Springbank Baptist Church with the Rev. Steve Miller
officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society,
128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210.
A Special request from Mrs
Dee Pearson Very good information for everyone!
Ron Godbey, Col USAF(Ret.) of San
Angelo passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2008, in
a local hospital. Military graveside service will
be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the Dallas-Fort
Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway,
Dallas, TX 75211, with Chaplain Art Ingalls officiating.
Ron was born on July 11, 1934, in Milford, Texas
to Pascal Lee and Katherine Williams Godbey. He
married Martha Worsham on May 14, 1954 in Fort Worth,
Texas. Ron was a man of many professions.
The Honorable Ron Godbey, a former member of the
New Mexico House of Representatives, holds a Bachelors
Degree from North Texas State University, did graduate
work in meteorology at Texas A&M University while
serving in the USAF, and later earned a Juris Doctors
Degree from Southern Methodist University (1971).
He specialized in tort and business law, real estate
law, and also served as a municipal court judge.
He also served as a part-time TV Meteorologist in
the Dallas - Fort Worth market. In 1975, he co-authored
the book "Texas Weather" with fellow KXAS (NBC 5
in Dallas) meteorologist Harold Taft (deceased in
1991). During that timeframe, Ron also
earned the AMS TV Seal of Approval. Ron was
also a Certified Consulting Meteorologist as well
as an attorney. In 1980, Ron gave up his active
law practice to return to active military service.
He served in the Air Weather Service and attended
the Air War College. Upon retirement in March 1991,
having risen from private to Colonel, he was awarded
the Legion of Merit. He then returned to his
law practice and became active in local government,
serving as Chief Deputy Treasurer and as Director
of the County Bureau of Elections in Bernalillo,
New Mexico. He was elected and served in the New
Mexico House of Representatives from 1999 to 2004.
He also holds a private pilots license, and is a
member of various veterans' organizations and civic
and professional groups. In 2006, he was the
President of Drug Watch International. Ron
is survived by his wife Martha Godbey of San Angelo,
Texas; son Gary Godbey of Haltom City, Texas; daughter
Julie Thompson of La Porte, Texas; grandson Wesley
Thompson; granddaughter Leah Godbey; grandson Christopher
Godbey; brother Robert Godbey, sister Glenda Godbey
and a sister Kay Godbey. Ron's obituary
and memorial book may be viewed online at
RobertMassie.com. RODNEY,
Ronald Lee 64, of
Beavercreek, Ohio, passed away February 4,
2008. Ron was a retired Lt. Col. in the Air
National Guard. His last assignment was commander
of the 207th Weather Flight based in
Indianapolis. He also had 38 years combined
active duty and civil service as a Staff Meteorologist
in the Air Force. Ron worked for Detachment 3 Air
Force Weather Agency at Wright Patterson Air Force
Base at the Air Force Research Lab Sensors Directorate.
Ron was a wonderful Husband, Father, Grandfather,
Friend, Co-worker, Teammate, Teacher, Mentor, and
Man. He loved everything life had to offer: God,
Family, Friends, Nature, Weather, Sports, Church,
and especially his wife of 38 years. He was a true
family man that had it all. He is survived by his
wife, Marilyn, and his children, Lisa, Chris, and
Jeff. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions,
in the form of donations, be made in memory of Ron
to the Clifton Gorge Division of Natural Preserves,
2045 Morse Rd. Building F-1, Columbus, OH 43229
or the Beavercreek Wetlands,
admin@beavercreekwetlands.org.
James A. "Al" Polston, SMSgt USAF (Ret.),
78, died Monday, Jan. 7, 2008, at the Chambersburg
PA Hospital. Born Nov. 30, 1929, in Lumberton, N.C.,
he was the son of the late Charles and Nettie Hughes
Polston. He worked for Unisys Corp. in Blue Bell,
Pa., for more than 20 years before retiring as a
manager.
He was also a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving
in the U.S. Air Force for over 20-years in Air Weather
Service as Observer, Forecaster and Meteorological
Programmer and Systems Analyst. He also served at
Ernest Harmon AB Newfoundland. He was the
lead Systems Analyst for development of the Automated
Weather Network ('65-'66). He came to Tinker AFB
(and AWN) from ETAC. He was a member of Corpus
Christi Catholic Church in Chambersburg. He
is survived by his wife, Margaret Gale Polston,
whom he married May 27,1950; three sisters, Verna
Sneed and Ruby Polston, both of Lumberton, and Margaret
Wiley of Charlotte, N.C.; and one brother, Norman
Polston of Lumberton. A memorial service was
held at Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, Chambersburg.
Inurnment followed in Parklawns Memorial Gardens,
Chambersburg.
Roger H. Olson, Lt Col, USAF (Ret.),
a longtime scientist and activist and former Boulder
City Councilman, died in Boulder City,Colorado,
January 3, 2008, following a long illness. He was
88.
Major (Ret.) James E. Warnke passed
away on December 10, 2006.
Jim had been in poor health the last few
years. He enlisted in the US Air Force in
1968, and took his basic training at Lackland AFB,
Texas. He went to Weather Observer School
at Chanute, and his first assignment was to Scott
AFB as a Weather Observer from 1968 to 1971. He
was assigned to Hickam AFB as an Observer from 1971
to 1974. From Hickam, he went back to Chanute
to Weather Forecasters School during 1975.
He went back to Scott AFB in 1976 to ETAC, as a
forecaster. While at ETAC, Jim applied for
and was accepted into Officers Training School in
1978. From 1978 until 1981, Jim was assigned
to The 3rd Weather Squadron at MacDill
AFB, serving as the DETCO at the base weather station
at least part of that time. From 1981 to 1982,
he was assigned to the Readiness Command at MacDill.
In 1982 Jim became a Unit Commander at the Selfridge
Michigan Air National Guard Base. In 1984
he went to Chanute AFB, Ill as a Technical Instructor
teaching the supplemental course through 1987.
In 1988 he became the Commanders Executive
Support Officer at Chanute until he retired from
the Air Force in 1990. He earned the following
Awards and Medals: Meritorious
Service Medal with Device, Joint Service Commendation
Medal with 2 Devices, Air Force Outstanding Unit
Award with 4 Devices, Air Force Good Conduct Medal
with 2 Devices, National Defense Service Medal,
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Longevity Service
Award Ribbon with 4 Devices, NCO Professional Military
Education Graduation Ribbon, and Small Arms Marksmanship
Ribbon with 1 Device. Jim and Barb Greiner met while
he was attending the U of Iowa.
They were married August 31, 1968 after Jim
completed Basic Training. They had 2 children, Deanna
and Mike. Deanna and
her husband Terry have 1 child.
Mike and his wife Bonita have 4 children.
After his retirement from the USAF, Jim went to
work for Chase Manhattan Mortgage in Tampa , Fl
as the Serving Training Manager.
That unit was moved to West Monroe,LA where
Jim worked for a couple more years.
In about 2000, he went to work for Standard
Mortgage in Lawrenceville , Ga. In 2002, Jim retired
the second time. He
and Barb moved to Navarre , Florida to be close
to their children and grandchildren. Barb is blessed
to be near her children and grandchildren.
She says Jim was a great husband, father,
and grandfather, and they had 38 wonderful years
together.
Col. Wayne C. Bogard USAF(Ret.),
died Friday morning, January 4, 2008 at his home in
Paradise Valley Estates in Fairfield CA. He was
born in 1920. He is survived by a sister.
His wife of many years, Claire, died 3 years earlier
and he will be buried on January 11th along her side
in Sacramento CA. He was a B-17 pilot in WW II,
shot down in 1943, evaded capture for awhile with the
aid of the French underground, but ultimately captured
by the Gestapo. He remained on active duty in
MATS and Air Weather Service as an aviator and Materiel
officer until retirement from AWS as the DCS Logistics
from November 1967 to January 1970. He was a member
of the Air Weather Association and attended every one
of its reunions.
Wilma “Gladys” Spaugy, 81, longtime
Anchorage Alaska resident, died Dec. 29, 2007 at Providence
Hospital. Gladys was born April 20, 1926 in Bolivar,
PA to George & Nora Flickinger. She married Robert Earl
Spaugy on June 18, 1949 and began an interesting life
as an Air Force wife. Their many assignments throughout
his career brought them to Alaska twice. The first time
was to Fairbanks from 1960 to 1964, and then again,
to Anchorage, for their terminal duty station
in 1969. This allowed them to indulge in their love
of camping, fishing and enjoying the beauty of The Great
North State. Gladys was a retired beautician, housewife
and avid stamp collector. One of her greatest passions
was the Junior Stamp Club of the Anchorage Philatelic
Society. She and her husband, Bob, devoted many Saturday
afternoons over 25 years to spreading their knowledge
and interest in stamps to the many children and young
adults of the Anchorage area. She is survived
by her beloved husband of 58 years, CMSgt (Ret) Bob
Spaugy; daughter and son-in-law, Genevieve and Bill
Poteat of Morganton, NC ; son, John D. Spaugy of California,
MD; brother and sister-in-law, Merle and Carol
Flickinger, of St. Louis, MO; many nieces and nephews
; close family friends, Ronnie Short and the family
of Dwayne and “Liz” Daniel, of Anchorage. She
was preceded in death by five of her six siblings.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials
be made to Providence Hospital Cancer Care, Cardiac
Rehabilitation programs or the charity of your
choice, especially those involving children, as Gladys
always loved the little ones.
James R. Vance, age 69, of Dardanelle, died Monday,
December 3, 2007 at the River Valley Medical Center. A son
of the late Ross Jennings and Audrey Sarah Pierce Vance,
he was born May 22, 1938 in Webster City, Iowa. He attended
Dardanelle High School before joining the United States
Air Force. He received his accounting degree from the University
of Nebraska at Omaha following his time in the Air Force,
became a certified public accountant and entered the field
of banking. Before returning to Dardanelle he had worked
at several banks in the United States, and had worked following
his retirement at the Bank of Dardanelle (now the Rivertown
Bank). He was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in
Russellville, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Steven
Vance. Survivors include his wife, Dale Vance; a son and
daughter-in-law, Edward James and Pamela Vance of Benton;
a daughter and son-in-law, Terri Lynn and Thomas Walter
Vogel of Normal, Illinois; a brother, David Frank Vance
of Russellville; a sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Don
Rainey of Maumelle; three grandchildren: Jacob Vogel and
Brooke Vogel, both of Normal; and Zachary Vance of Benton;
and two nephews and two nieces: David F. Vance Jr., Michael
Vance, Debbie Knight and Stephanie Pritt.
The funeral
mass will be at 10 A.M. on Thursday, December 6, 2007, at
St. John’s Catholic Church by Father William F. Thomas.
Burial in Rest Haven Memorial Park will be by Shinn Funeral
Service.
Active pallbearers will be Gerald Marklein,
Larry Cheffer, Damian Durbin, David Vance, Don Rainey and
Jim Powers.
The Rosary will be at 6:00 P.M. Wednesday
evening at the Shinn Chapel with a time of visitation to
follow.
Memorials may be made to the Altar Society
of St. John’s Catholic Church, 1900 West Main Street, Russellville,
Arkansas 72801.
Jack W. Reed, 84, a resident
of Albuquerque, passed away on Friday, November 30, 2007,
after a brief but feisty bout with lung cancer. He spent
his last days at the Care Center of Manzano del Sol Good
Samaritan Village, which he helped to found. Jack was a
brilliant mathematician and meteorologist, who went on from
an early love of flight to become an invaluable part of
the team that conducted the U.S.'s historic nuclear tests
in the 1950s and early '60s. He enjoyed a long, productive
scientific career at Sandia National Labs and at Kirtland
Air Force Base, where he served as a Reserve Officer in
the New Mexico Air National Guard. In his later years, Jack
was one of the much-loved "Weather Wizards," for the Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta, while he maintained an active
research life until his death. Jack was born in Corning,
IA on September 24, 1923. At the age of nine, he moved with
his mother, Vera Gibson and his step-father, Charles Reed
to Santa Fe, where his step-father was the State Highway
Engineer. He graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1940.
Jack was drafted into the US Army at the onset of World
War II. He was an early weather specialist in the Air Corps,
serving in the Philippines. In September 1944, Jack married
Lois Linville of Chicago, IL. When he was discharged from
the Army in 1947, they settled in Albuquerque, where he
finished his schooling at the University of New Mexico,
receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. They had two
children, Roger and Margaret. Jack became a meteorologist
at Sandia National Labs, with the important task of predicting
the fallout and shock patterns of numerous atmospheric nuclear
tests, both in Nevada and in the South Pacific. Jack worked
in various capacities at Sandia National Labs for 46 years.
After his retirement from Sandia, he founded a consulting
firm, JWR, Inc., where he continued to offer his expertise
to clients worldwide. Jack published countless papers on
atmospheric studies, wind energy, and nuclear matters and
tests. He was active for years in the Democratic Party,
the Boy Scouts, the New Mexico NAACP, and fought tirelessly
for civil rights in New Mexico. Jack was a longtime member
of First Congregational Church. Jack loved to travel around
the globe and across the nation. He was a wine connoisseur
and made numerous trips to California wine country and the
various wine regions of France. Proceeded in death by his
mother, step-father, and son, Roger. He is survived by his
wife, Lois Reed; daughter, Margaret "Marti" Reed, both residents
of Albuquerque; and granddaughter, Terra Lillie Reed, a
student at the University of Oregon currently attending
the University of Lyon in France. "And reed that boweth
to every blast." - Chaucer, 1385. Memorial Services will
be announced at a later date. French Mortuary 1111 University
Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333
www.frenchmortuary.com
Walter F. Pitts passed away peacefully
on October 22, 2007. He was born on April 2, 1924, in Waterville,
Washington, to T.I. Pitts and Inez McLean Pitts. He moved
to Olympia, in 1927, and spent his life between there and
his second home in Seattle. Walt graduated from William
Winlock Miller High School in 1942. He served in the Army
Air Corps Weather Service during World War II and upon his
discharge attended college. He received his undergraduate
degree from the University of Oregon and furthered his education
at the University of Washington, School of Law. Walt was
in private practice in Olympia for eight years and then
began a career with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission in Seattle. He held that position for 34 years
until his retirement in 1994. Walt was an active member
of the First Christian Church of Olympia, a member of the
Washington State Bar Association for 54 years, the American
Bar Association, and a staunch supporter of the University
of Washington. He leaves behind his sister, Margaret Hanson;
his niece, Joan White (Ron); niece-in-law, Patti Hanson;
aunt, Margaret Hansen; three great nieces; one great nephew;
one great-great niece; and two great-great nephews; and
many cousins. Because Walt never married, his extended family
was very important to him. He was preceded in death by his
parents; his sister, Joan Catherine; his brother-in-law,
Robert Hanson; and his nephew, John Hanson. The family requests
donations to be made to a favorite charity.
George A. Castle, Lt Col USAF (Ret.)
passed away at the age of 89 on October 29,
2007 in Shalimar, Florida. Fran Flesch states
that -- In the mid part of 2007, I located one of my
previous commanders from Det 25, 10th Weather
Sq, Nakhon Phanom RTAVB,Thailand and did in fact talk
to him by phone. He remembered me after all the
years that passed (June 67) and got enjoyment from me
sending him an APR that was written on me by him.
A couple weeks ago, I got word that he passed on.
He was one of the forecasters back then that did not
need a degree to become a Commander, an event which
I was not aware of.
Milo Radulovich, who became a searing symbol of the
excesses of anti-Communism in the 1950s when Edward R. Murrow
broadcast an account of his firing as an Air Force reserve officer
because of his relatives’ associations, died Monday in Vallejo,
Calif. He was 81.
The cause was complications of a
stroke, his son-in-law Richard Ostrander said.
Mr. Radulovich’s
tribulations began in August 1953, when he was a student at
the University of Michigan, as he baby-sat and studied a physics
book in his home in Dexter, Mich. Two Air Force officers came
to his door and handed him an envelope. He opened it to read
that he had been removed as an officer in the Air Force Reserve
because he was a security risk.
His own loyalty was not
questioned. His father and sister were accused of being Communist
sympathizers, and he was summarily judged to be risky by association.
The case raised questions about balancing national security
concerns and citizens’ rights after Mr. Murrow broadcast a report
on Oct. 20, 1953. It appeared on the television newsmagazine
program “See It Now.”
Viewers responded by sending 8,000
letters and telegrams to CBS and Alcoa, the program’s sponsor;
the letters were 100 to 1 in support of Mr. Radulovich. Newspaper
editorials rallied to his cause.
Fred W. Friendly, producer
of the program, called it “the first time any of us appreciated
the power of television.”
In 2005, the episode became
a big part of a hit movie about Mr. Murrow and his CBS colleagues,
“Good Night, and Good Luck.” Mr. Radulovich was a consultant
for the film and appeared in original clips from the program.
The Radulovich broadcast was the first salvo that “See
It Now” fired against Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, Republican
of Wisconsin, and his anti-Communist tactics. Although the case
of Mr. Radulovich did not involve McCarthy, and the senator
was not mentioned in relation to him, two later “See It Now”
programs dealt directly with McCarthy.
In 1998, the
State Bar of Michigan honored the program about Mr. Radulovich
with a plaque that reads, “It is generally believed that the
program was the beginning of the end for the McCarthy era.”
Milo John Radulovich was born in Detroit on Oct. 28, 1926.
His father, John, a Serbian immigrant, was an autoworker.
Milo was an aviation cadet at what was then Michigan
State College before joining the Army Air Forces in 1944 and
becoming a meteorologist. He did top-secret work in Greenland
and was discharged as a first lieutenant in 1952. He then attended
the University of Michigan on the G.I. Bill and was a lieutenant
in the Air Force Reserve.
He learned that his father
was suspect because he read a Slavic newspaper seen as pro-Communist.
His sister was suspect because she had picketed a Detroit hotel
that refused to lodge Paul Robeson, the renowned singer, who
publicly admired Stalin.
“No way I would repudiate my
family,” Milo Radulovich told The Detroit News in 2005. “I knew
if my case went unresolved, the government could do this to
anyone, anywhere.”
With the help of lawyers working free,
Mr. Radulovich fought back. The Detroit News ran two articles
about his case, the second of which Mr. Murrow read. He sent
a crew to Michigan.
When Mr. Friendly saw the film, he recognized
it as both moving and volatile, according to a 2004 article
in Quill magazine by Joseph Wershba, the reporter who went to
Michigan. “You’re fired,” Mr. Friendly told the cameraman in
a phone call. “I’m fired. Ed’s fired, but we’re going to turn
out the greatest broadcast ever done on television.”
In the days before the broadcast, CBS executives grew skittish
because of the dependence of Alcoa, the sponsor, on military
contracts. The network refused to promote the program, so Mr.
Murrow and Mr. Friendly put up $1,500 of their own money for
an ad in The New York Times.
“The case against Lt. Milo
Radulovich A0589839” it said. (The number was his serial number.)
Mr. Radulovich was soon reinstated in the Reserve. He moved
to California, and, after difficulty finding work, became a
meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
Mr.
Radulovich, who lived in Lodi, Calif., was divorced from his
first wife, the former Nancy Tuttle; his second wife, the former
Sheila Day, died about five years ago. He is survived by his
daughters Katherine Radulovich of Sacramento, Janet Sweeney
of Elk Grove, Calif., and Danica Berner of Bishop, Calif.; his
brothers Sam and Walter, both of Detroit; and a grandson.
Mr. Radulovich never doubted the value of his fight.
In speeches he cited parallels to what he saw as similar infringements
on liberties in the war on terrorism, saying, “I feel I represent
lots and lots of Americans who would have done the same thing.”
Col. Howard L. Rust,USAF (Ret.), died October
22, 2007, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital. Howard
was born in Grove City Pennsylvania on July 25, 1922. He
was the son of Walter J. Rust and Sara Uber Rust. He was
the brother of Lucille Rust Brittain of Knoxville, Tenn.,
Walter J. Rust of Hollywood, FL and Wm. J. Rust of Platte
City, MO. He also had a sister Geraldine and a brother Robert
who are deceased. He married Erma Ralston in Greenville,
Texas, July 24, 1943. The Rusts were blessed with three
daughters, Dian Kress,Mayetta, Kansas, Suzan Hanamann, Mission,
TX and Bonnie Sartain, Palm Desert, CA. and doubly blessed
with 12 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.
Howard joined the Army Air Force on July 7, 1942 and served
in the Air Force twenty eight years. He was a veteran of
WWII, the Korean Conflict, the Cuban Crisis, and the Vietnam
War. His service decorations include The Distinguished
Flying Cross, The Bronze Star, The Air Medal, The Air Force
Commendation Medal plus ten other Theater and Country Service
Medals. He retired with the rank of Colonel on July 1, 1970.
Howard loved and trusted his God, whether it was a mission
for the Air Force or a mission of life. He leaned heavily
on this trust. "Rusty" did not fear death, he said, "That
is the last great adventure God gives mankind; when man
discovers everything is so simple. All you have to do is
trust in him." He was a member of AWA, The First United
Methodist Church, the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
Association, Retired officers Assoc., The American Legion
and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Lt Col
Billie E. Grubbs,USAF (Ret.), died October 16,
2007 in Madison, Alabama. He was 75.
Major Alma Gene McKemie,USAF (Ret.), 83,
died October 15, 2007 in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
Gene was born in Christopher, Ill., to the late Thomas Merrill
McKemie and Ava Akin McKemie. He served as a pilot
and later as a meteorologist for the U.S. Air Force. Gene
retired with 24 years of service in the Air Force on Oct.
31, 1966. He was a member of the Order of Daedalians
and the Goldsboro Rotary Club. Gene is survived by his wife,
Dorothy Lassiter McKemie; his daughter and son-in-law, Tami
and David West of Goldsboro; his sons and daughter-in-law,
James Patrick McKemie of Raleigh and Thomas E. and Babette
McKemie of Raleigh; and his grandchildren, Ryan Miller,
Kayla West, Corbin McKemie, Christian McKemie, Jason West
and Eric West and wife, Amber.
Col. (Ret) Thomas D. Potter, Ph.D., a research professor
emeritus with the U of U Department of Meteorology, died Oct.
16 from pancreatic cancer. He was 78.
Born on Feb. 3, 1929, in Jamestown, N.D., Potter went on
to a distinguished career in meteorology spanning more than
50 years. After receiving a BA. in math (1951), B.S. in meteorology
(’54), and an M.S. in atmospheric sciences (’56) from the University
of Washington (’56), he pursued a doctorate in atmospheric sciences
at Penn State University (’62). His 1961 doctoral dissertation
established that ground-based radar could measure atmospheric
conditions, an advance that led to the development of the Doppler
radar now widely in use in weather forecasting. After college,
he became a vice commander in the U.S. Air Force Air Weather
Service, and during his 24 years of service became a key figure
in revolutionizing forecasting by equipping satellites to monitor
the Earth’s weather from space. He was awarded the Legion of
Merit upon retirement. He also spent seven years with the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, seven with the United
Nations, and 10 as the western regional director of the National
Weather Service, and also served as an associate professor at
St. Louis University.
Potter joined the University of
Utah faculty in 1998 as a research professor. During his tenure,
he led the weather support project for the 2002 Olympic Winter
Games. His planning helped deal with transportation issues,
snow removal problems, opening and closing ceremonies, and volunteer
coordination
Tom Potter is survived by his wife, Billie;
six children, Mike, Ann, Tom Jr., Mark (Gwen), Andy (Robyn),
and Matt; 12 grandchildren; and siblings Jack, Jeff, Pat Styer,
and Nancy Cramer. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to
the Nature Conservancy (nature.org) or the Special Op Warrior
Foundation, specialops.org.
Karl Reidar (Jo) Johannessen, 90, who served for over
two decades in the Air Weather Service, died on October 18 at
Island Elder Care in Vashon, WA. His wife, Phoebe wrote, “If
you are in touch with any of the old cew perhaps you would let
them know.”
Jo was surrounded in his death by
Phoebe Johannessen and his children, Lisbeth (Johannessen) Brown,
Erik Frith Johannessen, Sissel Johannessen and Jan Nils Johannessen.
He is also survived by a sister, Agnes Astrup, twelve grandchildren,
and one great granddaughter. His family wishes to thank Theresa,
Praxy (Praxedes) and Johnny (Juanito) of Island Elder Care for
their loving attendance and care, and the Hospice team for their
kindness and assistance during Jo's last hours of Life.
Karl was born in the town of Aalesund, Norway, matriculated
from thegymnasium there, and earned his degree in Atmospheric
Science and Meteorology from University of Oslo. Shortly thereafter
WWII was declared and when Germany invaded Norway, Karl escaped
on skis over the mountains to Sweden, where he taught mathematics
in a school for Norwegian evacuees until he could make his way
to England. There he joined the Royal Norwegian Air Force and
became part of the British Met (Meteorological) Office. For
the duration of the war, Norwegian Meteorologists successfully
contributed to Upper Air Unit analyses important to the success
of the Allied victory in Europe; Karl was a part of the team
that developed the forecast crucial to the D-Day victory. In
England, Jo met Phoebe Frith, also assigned to the Met Office,
and they were married on May 9, `945.
Karl and
Phoebe and their infant daughter returned to Norway in 1946,
and Jo served in the Royal Norwegian Air Force as a meteorologist
until 1951, when they and, now, three children, immigrated to
the United States at the invitation of the American government.
There he worked as a civilian meteorological consultant for/to
the US Air Force at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, and
his fourth child was born. In 1959 he received a Rockefeller
Award for advanced study at the University of Chicago. He was
subsequently employed by the United States Weather Bureau (later
the National Weather Service of NOAA) as director of the North
East Region, located in New York. He later became the Deputy
Director for Operations at the National Weather Service headquarters
in Silver Springs, Maryland, where he served until his retirement
in 1981. Karl and Phoebe made their home in Vashon in 1992.
Phoebe and her family will be at home to friends
who wish to join them in a celebration of Jo's life, on Saturday,
November 3, 2-5 PM.
 Major
General Harold H. Bassett was born April 1, 1907
in Albion, Illinois and died in San Antonio, Texas on
Thursday, October 4th at age 100. He is survived by
his grandsons Michael Hill of Weston, TX and Russell
Hill of Sherman, TX; granddaughter Heidi Hill of San
Francisco, CA and nephew John Bassett of Geneva, Illinois.
He was predeceased by his wife Anita Bassett and daughter
Frances Hill. He was a graduate of the U.S. Military
Academy and his military service was in the Army Air
Corps and USAF where his assignments included command
of the Air Weather Services and the USAF Security Service.
Burial will be at the family plot in Albion, Illinois.
You are invited to sign the Guestbook at
www.porterloring.com Arrangements with Porter Loring
Mortuary.
It appears that there will be a private ceremony with internment
at the family plot in Albion, Illinois. His official bio
from af.mil is at:
http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=4623
From AWS Heritage 1937-1987
Harold Huntley Bassett
Major General, United States Air Force
Fourth and Ninth Commander of Air Weather Service
9 March 1943 - 9 January 1945
13 November 1958 - 31 October 1959
Retired from active duty in October 1959
Significant events during General Bassett's tenure as
AWS Commander include establishment of a short-range
forecast verification program (24-, 36-, and 48-hour),
April 1943; inauguration of the USAF Strategic
Facsimile Network which connected Global Weather Central,
Offutt AFB NE with five other US weather centers on
15 February 1959; initiation of the operational
numerical (computer) flight plan system on 15 may 1959;
and activation of the first two weather squadrons (7th
at Heidelberg, Germany, and the 16th at Fort Monroe,
Virginia) for exclusive support of the U.S. Army on
8 July 1959.
Larry Carmack, 68, of New Athens, Ill., formerly of
Belleville, Ill., born October 13, 1938 in Cardwell, MO., died
Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Belleville,
Ill. Larry “Chief” Carmack retired from the United States Air
Force, after nearly 30 years of devoted service. He was a true
believer of the military system of honor and respect. His love
for family and country was above reproach. He will be missed
by all that knew him. He was also a member of the 20 GWB’s and
the VFW Post 4183.
He was preceded in death by his parents
Clay & Lona, nee Marshall, Carmack, wife Jacqueline “Jackie”,
nee Nevard, Carmack, who died October 23, 2001, a brother Wendell
Carmack and a sister Barbara Nashif.
Larry is survived by 4 children; Gary Carmack of Orlando,
FL., Michael (Elizabeth) Carmack of Panama City, FL., Leslie
(Edward) Dellamano of Belleville, Ill., Susan George of Belleville,
Ill., 3 grandchildren; Rachel Carmack, Clifford Dellamano, Isabell
Dellamano and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials
may be made to ALS. Condolences may be extended to the family
at
www.schildknechtfh.com
Visitation will be held Thursday,
October 4, 2007 from 6-8 pm at Schildknecht Funeral Home, 301
S. Lincoln Avenue, O’Fallon, Ill. There will be a VFW service
held at 7:00 pm.
Funeral procession will leave Friday, October
5, 2007 at 8:45 am from Schildknecht Funeral Home for a 10:00
am graveside service at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery,
St. Louis, MO.
McAnally, Paul, Col USAF (Ret.) died of
natural causes on September 30, 2007 in Winchester, VA.
He was 88. Paul was born in Danville, IL, on September
8, 1919, to Gerald and May (Skadden) McAnally. He grew up
in Canton, SD. At the age of two he won the blue ribbon
for finest baby at the county fair. He went on to be the
finest man any of us ever knew. Paul attended Morningside
College in Sioux City, and graduated from the University
of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. He joined the Army Air
Corps in 1941. He served as a navigator in WWII, including
the North African theater, and remained in the USAF for
a career after the war, finally retiring as a colonel and
commander of the 4th Weather Wing at Ent AFB in Colorado
Springs in 1971. He was held in highest regard by the 4000
men under his command and countless others with whom he
served. He married Ann Marie Knudsen of Bronson, Iowa, in
July 1942. Together they raised three children at Air Force
assignments around the country as well as overseas. Paul
held masters degrees in meteorology from the University
of Chicago and in counseling from the University of Arizona
in Tucson. After his retirement from the Air Force, he taught
junior high school in Tucson, AZ. He was a fabulous cornet
player and a natural athlete. Ice hockey was his sport of
choice in South Dakota in his youth, and later golf and
especially tennis after he moved to warmer climates. He
was always quick to lend a helping hand, served up with
a dry wit that brought a smile to those around him. "Grand"
didn't know how to turn down a charity. He will be missed
by many. He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen of Winchester,
VA; his son Tom in Seattle; his son, Gary of Sacramento,
eight grandchildren and his sister, Helen in Denver.
Major William Donald Cooke, Army Air Corps,
a World War II forecaster and climatologist, died Sept.
20, 2007 at his home in Ithaca, New York. He was in charge
of America's Wide Wing's research and historical studies
at SHAPE, Gen.Dwight Eisenhower's headquarters, first at
Bushy Park in England and then at St. Germaine-en-Laye,
France. He was 89. Born in Philadelphia in1918, Maj. Cooke
graduated from S. Joseph's College in 1940. After Pearl
Harbor, he joined the U. S. Army Air Corps, and he arrived
in Keesler Field, in September 1943 as a newly-minted second
lieutenant from the meteorology course at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Class four. He was assigned
the midnight shift, because the Weather Detachment Commander
there had decided to minimize the amount of damage an untried
forecaster could bring about. For Don Cooke's first night,
there was no air traffic at all. But at 4:00 AM the phone
rang. It was the Officer of the Day, who wanted to known
what the uniform of the day should be. Don told him that
it looked like it was going to be a nice day and that khakis
should be fine. There was a long pause followed by “Lieutenant,
do you know it's raining now?”
That was one of the few forecasts he was ever destined to
make. A couple of weeks later he was off to the European
Theater of Operations, ETO, where he was assigned work in
climatology at Col. Donald N. Yate's Wide Wing, the forecast
center for all of the United States Strategic Air Forces
through out ETO. His associates already there were Capt.
Ed Fickensher and the renown Dr. Helmut Landsberg, a German-American
from Prof. Carl Rossby's Meteorology Department at the University
of Chicago. Also an English civilian, Miss Grace Constance
Groon. And, significantly, Sgt. Lillian Finkelstein, a professional
artist. As circumstances would thus dictate, Lt. Cooke also
took over the Wide Wing responsibilities for Visual Presentations,
for him a side medium in which, later, he delved into, with
a life-long pursuit in creating layouts and draftings
and briefing aids, and a hobby that earmarked him as an
upbeat communicator who was much appreciated for his clever
graphics. Capt. Cooke was also
a skilled poker player. And, following D-day, cards at night
melded out the long, cold European winter of '44 for a worn-out
group of Wide-Wingers, at its headquarters, there in St.Germain-en-Laye:
The adjoining portrait 
of W. Donald Cooke was taken there, later in 1994, at the
gates to the Ecole Normale, the girls school, that had been
appropriated first by the Germans and then by us, to
headquarter the conduct of the Great War in Europe. One
of his poker buddies there was a, Lt. Col. John R. Parsons,
Jr. John, a nationally well-known sage in the Nation's
Capitol, also died recently and was buried November
2007, with full military plus national honors at Arlington,
Washington, D.C. (John, although not an AWA member, is known
to many of its members.) Sometime
in the Spring of '45, Gen. Eisenhower and a select staff,
which included Capt. Cooke as its Staff Weather Officer,
withdrew to a remote villa in the French countryside. And,
it was to this secluded location that in April a caravan
of several vehicles sneaked out of Berlin, through Allied
battle zones, to Ike's French recluse, there to negotiate
quietly on possible surrender terms. Maj. Cooke was instrumental
in laying out the groundwork for this secret get together
and for assisting in carrying it out; and he has since written
an interesting account about this little known event.
He was discharged with the rank of major in late 1945. On
his troop-ship voyage Stateside he made enough money in
playing poker to buy a diamond ring and marry his childhood
sweetheart, June Marie Orr. June passed away in October
2006, shortly after the couple's 60th wedding anniversary.
He continued to play poker several times a month throughout
the rest of his life, and he founded the Cayuga Poker Society,
for which he published a monthly newsletter with unusual
stories about history, sports, politics and weather.
He earned his M.S. Degree in 1948 and his Ph.D. In 1949
at the University of Pennsylvania. For two years thereafter,
he studied as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Princeton University.
Cooke went to Cornell in 1951 as an assistant professor
and led the effort to modernize analytical chemistry, introducing
instrumental analysis, including electro-chemistry,
infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance. He became a full
professor in 1959 and later became associate dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences (1962-64); dean of the Graduate
School (1964-73); and vice president for research and advanced
studies (1969-83). Among many other contributions,
he wrote the University Appointment Manual, now known as
"the Cooke Book." He also served as acting provost, acting
chemistry department chair, occupational health and safety
programs director and an active member of the Cornell University
Senate. During the student unrest of the 1960s and
'70s, he negotiated successfully with student leaders and
even remained in contact with several of them in later years.
At Cornell, Cooke was known for the broad scope of his career
and for his generosity, sincerity and passion for justice.
He continued an active teaching role throughout his administration
postings, and even past his retirement in 1987.
He has been a member of the Air Weather Association from
its beginning and attended many of its Reunions. He
has been an active contributor to Art Gulliver's 18th Weather
Squadron Newsletter. Don had a special gift with people.
He had a positive outlook and led a life of modesty and
dignity with respect for people from all walks of life.
All who knew Don will miss him greatly. Submitted
by Bob Bundgaard,10 Jan 08. N. B.
A Celebration of Life Service was held on 9/24/07 for
CMSGT (Ret) Bertram R. Grigsby at the New Life Presbyterian
Church in Bellevue, Nebraska. Bertram Rhodes Grigsby died
on September 17, 2007. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio,
January 4, 1931 to William Rhodes and Eloise Massey Grigsby.
He was educated in Pittsburgh, Penn. public schools. On
September 8, 1949, Bert enlisted in the newly formed United
States Air Force. He served his country for 32 years,
rising to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. His awards and
decorations were many, from the Meritorius Service Medal with
two oak leaf clusters to the AF Good Conduct Medal with five
oak leaf clusters and a mixture of Air Force, Army and National
Defense medals in between. After retiring from the Air
Force, he attended Bellevue University graduating with a BA
degree in 1984. He was employed at First Data Resources
as a Trainer for 10 years. Bert taught Sunday School at
Air Force chapels at many of the bases he was assigned.
He joined Calvin Memorial Presbyterian Church in 1981 where
he served as a Trustee. He later joined New Life Presbyterian
Church, was ordained an Elder and served on the Session for
six years. He was the Clerk of the Session for 5 years.
He also chaired or served on numerous committees at the Church,
the Presbytery of Missouri River Valley, and the Synod of Lake
and Prairies.
And, from previous correspondence --
Interment was on Sept. 25 at Leavenworth National Cemetery in
Leavenworth, Kan.
Bertram is survived by his wife of
55 years, Marjorie; children, James L. and wife Tina of Sabastian,
Fla., Janice M. Harper of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Joyce R. Grigsby
of Minneapolis, Minn., Jeffrey K. Grigsby of Las Vegas, Nev.;
grandchildren, Janelle N. Shank, Eric K. Grigsby, Jillian A.
Statmore, Sondra D. Grigsby, Joseph D. Harper, Ryan J. Grigsby,
Caila M. Grigsby; great-grandchildren, Madeleine M. Dangerfield,
Quentin K. Grigsby, Loki D. Statmore, Nadia D. Grigsby, Willow
S. Statmore; sister, Lynneth S. Jones, Detroit, Mich.; brother,
Toussaint L. and wife Colletta Grigsby of Reno, Nev.; sisters-in-law,
Beatrice Rudd and Patricia Farmer both of Dayton, Ohio, Jeanette
Poole of Pittsburgh, Penn.; daughter-in-law, Cynthia D. Grigsby,
and many other relatives and friends.
Memorials may
be made to the American Cancer Society or New Life Presbyterian
Church.
Henry (Hank) W. Brandli, Satellite Meteorologist, died
Wednesday 9/26/07 (5:04PM) at Wuestoff Hospital due to a long time
battle with Multiple Sclerosis. He retired from the USAF as a LT
Colonel in 1976 (due to Multiple Sclerosis). Since his retirement
he had been a consultant, instructor, and writer for a number of
organizations including Harris Corporation, ERT, Swedish Air Force,
TAS Lockheed and has written over 400 technical and free lance articles
(too many to mention), including USAF's first book on "Satellite
Meteorology". Hank had a Bachelor's degree cum laude in Mechanical
Engineering from Tufts University and two Master's degrees from
MIT in Meteorology and Aeronautics/Astronautics. He was chairman
of the Satellite Meteorology Committee of the National Weather Association.
Hank was the "Weatherman", during Hurricane season the phone would
ring off the hook, even surfers knew to "Ask Hank". He had a great
sense of humor and was always the life of the party. He educated
everyone through satellite images. Hank loved golf and all sports
and was an accomplished basketball player. He was captain of the
team at Boston Latin High School. He will be sorely missed! Hank
is survived by wife Eleanor, and previous wife Bernadette, brother
Paul and sister Donna. Children include: Elizabeth, Matthew and
Pamela, Brian and Catherine and six grandchildren. He was preceded
in death by oldest son Mark. Calling hours: Sunday 5:00PM to 7:00PM
at Brownlie-Maxwell Funeral Home 1010 E. Palmetto Ave, Melbourne.
In lieu of flowers please donate to local MS Society. Funeral Services
are private for family only.
Lt Col (ret) Gene Frey passed away at Memorial Hospital
in Colorado Springs on Sunday, August 26. On Friday morning, August
24, he fell and hit his head at his home in Albuquerque while he
and his wife, Jan, prepared to drive to the Springs for the 50th
wedding anniversary celebration of Col (ret) George and Roxanne
Hammond. Gene seemed ok but complications developed during the trip
due to internal bleeding and he required hospitalization by the
time they arrived in the Springs.
Gene was assigned to the University
Of Chicago for undergraduate meteorology; Wright-Patterson AFB Ohio;
Sidi Slimane, Morocco; Severe Storms Center at Kansas City;
University of Michigan (graduate school); Qui Nhon, Viet Nam;
Stuttgart, Germany (EUCOM), RAF Croughton, England, Hq AWS
at Scott AFB; and Kirtland AFB NM. He retired from the Air
Force in 1978; and worked with an engineering firm in Albuquerque;
and worked 7 years for the University of New Mexico Engineering
Research Institute (NUMERI), and seven years for the City of Albuquerque
in Public Works. He completely retired about 1992.
On September 7, a memorial service will be held in Albuquerque
and a military honors ceremony will be held at the Santa Fe National
Cemetery. Jan can be reached at
ewjifrey@comcast.net.
Joseph M. Dougherty, 88, of Glendale, Arizona passed away
peacefully on July 15, 2007. Joe was born in Du Bois, Pennsylvania
on June 15, 1919, the eldest son of Edward and Lillian Dougherty.
Raised in Du Bois, he graduated from St. Catherine's High School
in 1939 and attended the University of Detroit. In 1941 he enlisted
in the U.S. Army-Air Force, starting a long career in weather forecasting.
In 1943, Joe married Marcella R. O'Leary of Punxsutawney, PA, his
life-long wife of 64 years. Together, they had five sons: Patrick,
Michael (Gilda), Timothy (Suka), Shawn, and Daniel. Joe served his
country for thirty years as a meteorologist and hurricane hunter
and attained the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CWO-4). Joe retired
from the Air Force in 1971 at Luke Air Force Base and settled in
Glendale. He worked as a meteorologist at KOOL Television (Channel
10) from 1972 until his retirement in 1984.Joe's family wishes to
thank the many people who cared for Joe during his illness, especially
the wonderful staff, nurses, and doctors at the Arizona State Veteran's
Home. Joseph is survived by his wife, Marcella; brother, Edward
Dougherty of Silver Springs, Maryland; four sons, eight grandchildren,
and five great-grandchildren. Visitation was Thursday, July 19,
2007 from 5 until 8 PM at Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary, 7924 N.
59th Ave., Glendale, with Rosary at 7:00 PM. Funeral Mass was at
10:30 AM, Friday, July 20 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 5614 W.
Orangewood Ave., Glendale, Arizona. Private interment was in Holy
Cross Cemetery, Avondale.
James F. Mattingly Jr., 87,devoted husband,
father and grandpa, was mercifully released from the grip of Alzheimer's
disease on June 20, 2007. Jim was born in Louisville, Ky on May
19, 1920 to Lissetta (Nicholas) and James F. Mattingly Sr. He graduated
from Jefferson County High School in Louisville and worked in several
jobs before joining the Army Air Corps in July 1943 and earned his
pilot wings and pinned on 2nd Lt in Apr 1945. His first duty station
was Truax Field, Wisconsin, near Stoughton, where he met the farmer's
daughter, Harriet Berkins and married her after a whirlwind 3-month
courtship in Aug 1945. They began a 31-year journey in the Air Force
that took them to Germany twice, the Far East and many stateside
assignments. Due to a RIF after WWII, he became a Master Sergeant
and entered the meteorology career field. During the Korean War,
he was re-commissioned as a Capt in the weather field. Although
he remained in the Air Weather Service most of his career, he did
have one tour of duty flying WB-50s out of Yokota AB,Japan which
he dearly loved. He also managed to fly base flight aircraft during
every assignment. His final assignment was as Director of Operations,
4th Weather Wing at Peterson AFB. Flying was Jim's greatest love,
besides Harriet and Chris. Later in life, he enjoyed golf, but he
always enjoyed giving others a helping hand. He is predeceased by
his parents; daughter, Mary; and brother, Don Mattingly of Louisville,
KY. He is survived by his wife of nearly 62 years, Harriet, and
son, Chris (Lori), and four grandsons, Ian, Christopher, Peter and
Brian. A memorial service will be held at the Shrine of Remembrance
"America the Beautiful" Chapel of Roses,1730 East Fountain Blvd.,
Colorado Springs, CO, on June 30, 2007 at 2:00pm A tribute to Jim's
life will be held at the USAFA Officer's Club at 3:30pm. Family
members extend their deepest gratitude to Pikes Peak Hospice for
their tremendous support, dedication and compassionate care. God
bless you all.
 Col.
Dan King Waylett, 70, passed away suddenly at his residence
on Tuesday, April 17, 2007. Born Feb. 1, 1937, in Butte, Mont.,
he was the son of the late Harry King Waylett and Nell Correia Waylett.
He served with honor in the U.S. Air Force for over 26 years, retiring
at the rank of Colonel on Oct. 1, 1986. Col. Waylett earned many
honors during his distinguished career, including the Meritorious
Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with 2 oak
leaf clusters, and the Vietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze stars.
His most personally treasured honor came in the form of being named
an Honorary Chief Master Sergeant, a rarely earned title. Dan was
a graduate of Montana State, Class of 1960, and a member of Sigma
Nu fraternity. More recently he was a Real Estate Broker with Abbitt
Realty Co. Dan is survived by his loving family, including his wife
of over 48 years, Maryann McGinnis Waylett; two daughters, Denise
K. May and husband, Lenny, of Bellevue, Neb., and Michele W. Burgess
and husband, Bob, of Hampton; son, Darin K. Waylett and wife, Christine,
of Richmond; two sisters-in-law, Donna Waylett of Dillon, Mont.,
and Cathy Waylett of Paso Robles, Calif.; five grandchildren, Daniel
and Jamie Burgess, Smith Waylett, Quinnton and Rheece May; and numerous
cousins, nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased
by two brothers, Don and Pete Waylett, and his granddaughter, Challon
May. A memorial service with full military honors will be celebrated
at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, by
the Rev. Bob Yevak. The family will receive friends at the funeral
home from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Friends are encouraged to
visit www.mem.comm to share special
remembrances and words of comfort with Dan's family. In lieu of
flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the
Norfolk Botanical Gardens, 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, VA
23518, or to the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation,
1701 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311.
Arrangements are
under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home and Cremation Services,
2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton.
 Lt.
Col. Scott L Williams (USAF Ret), 89, of Chestertown, died March
2, 2007, at Heron Point, Chestertown, Md.
Born in Marlow,
OK, he was the son of J. Don and Elendor Williams. He is survived
by his wife of 62 years, Mary Ellen Williams, of Chestertown, a
son Lansing and his wife Susan of Chestertown and Donnell and his
wife Wanthana of Herndon, VA, his grandchildren Eva, Galadreal,
Lorien, Robert and two brothers. His parents, a brother and three
sisters preceded him in death.
Lt. Col. Williams graduated
from Oklahoma State University with a BS in Electrical Engineering,
and received his MS in Meteorology from New York University, with
further studies at Stockholm Sweden's International Institute of
Meteorology..
He entered the Army Air Corp in World War II,
enlisting as a cadet, receiving training in Grand Rapids, MI, where
he met his wife, whom he married on June 12, 1945. After the war,
he worked for Westinghouse Electric before returning to the Air
Force. At the time of his retirement, he was with the Directorate
of Scientific Services, Headquarters, Air Weather Service. He was
stationed in Bermuda, Morocco, and Sweden, where he attended school
and several US posts. After his Air Force career, he joined the
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration where he worked
on the BOMEX project, and in Iran where he was setting up a national
Iranian
weather service until the Shaw of Iran was deposed..
After retirement the Williams made their home in Annapolis for
13 years, before coming to Heron Point.
In his early years
he enjoyed hunting and fishing, before cultivating a love for sailing.
He logged over 10,000 miles cruising on his three boats, from Nova
Scotia to the Bahamas, and, of course, on his beloved Chesapeake
Bay. He was a volunteer for the Chester River Keeper, and was the
first president of the Heron Point Internet Users Group.
Over the course of his lifetime, Mr. Williams was the recipient
of numerous awards and commendations for his professional and avocational
achievements.
A Celebration of Life service will be held
at Heron Point's Wesley Hall on March 24, 2007 at 3:00 PM, with
internment at Arlington National Cemetery on April 26, 2007..
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be
made to a charity of choice in his memory.
Karen Ann Friday passed away peacefully
from this world into the waiting arms of our Savior Jesus Christ
at Fairfax Hospital on March 21, 2007, after a long bout with cancer.
She was 66 at the time of her death. Born on December 3, 1940, she
was the second child of Thomas W Hauschild and Gladys Rusch Hauschild.
In November, 1959, she married Elbert W. (Joe) Friday. Joe
credits her with unfailing love and support during his 20-year Air
Force career and his 17 years as Deputy Director and Director of
the National Weather Service, and throughout the rest of their 47
and a half year marriage. Karen was an able head of the household
as Joe served in Vietnam and as other duties took him away for weeks
at a time.
Karen was a devout member of Calvary Christian Church
in Burke, Virginia. Her hobbies included working in stained
glass, sewing, gardening and, most importantly, loving her grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. E. W. (Joe) Friday of Lorton,
VA; her brother, Tom Hauschild of Moore, Oklahoma; two daughters,
Kristine Ahlskog of Springfield, VA, and Kelly Crow of Herndon,
VA; and five grandchildren.
The family will be able to greet
friends on Tuesday, March 27 from 6PM to 8PM at Demaine Funeral
Home, 5308 Backlick Rd, Springfield, VA. A celebration of
her life will be held on Wednesday, March 28 at Calvary Christian
Church, 9800 Old Keene Mill Rd, Burke, VA. Interment will
be held later at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers,
donations to Calvary Christian Church or to the charity of your
choice are encouraged.
Thanks for all your support..
E W
(Joe) Friday
Donald Sakanich passed away Tuesday,
March 20th, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Don was born
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 23, 1928, to John and Mary
Sakanich. Don lost his mother when he was a young child. His dad
remarried and his father and stepmother, Mary, lovingly raised Don.
In 1947, Don graduated from high school and joined the Air Force.
During his term in the military, Don also attended Texas A & M,
where he graduated in 1957. Don served his country for 32 years,
flying missions in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars and as a member
of the Hurricane Hunters. He retired from the military in 1979 after
achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Don returned to school,
where he obtained his teaching certificate. He went on to teach
math at Millard South High School where he remained for 14 years.
Don remained very active after his retirement, traveling frequently
with Dottie to visit family members throughout the country. Don
was a devoted husband, loving father and loyal friend and will be
truly missed by many. Don is preceded in death by his parents, John
and Mary Sakanich and stepmother Mary. He is survived by wife, Dorothy
"Dottie" and daughters and sons-in law, Donna and Richard Benham,
Decatur, TX; Linda and Jimmy Chandler, Clinton, AR; Barbara Baker
and special friend, Steve Svoboda, Omaha, NE; Cindy and Mark Smith,
Chandler, AZ; and son and daughter-in-law Keith and Karen Dunlap,
Scottsdale, AZ. Don was a wonderful grandfather to 12 and great-grandfather
to six.
Visitation will be held at Kahler-Dolce Mortuary, Papillion,
NE on Thursday, March 22, from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., with the family
receiving friends from 2:00 - 4:00. Funeral services will be held
at Capehart Chapel, 25th and Capehart Road, Bellevue, NE on Friday,
March 23, at 2:00 p.m., with visitation one hour prior. Internment
to follow at Cedardale Cemetery, Papillion, NE. Memorials to the
American Cancer Society.
Col. George Anderson Guy, Sr.,
92, died 23 February 2007 in Solona Beach, Calif.
He was founder and Program Manager of the project known as the
“Weather Observing and Forecasting System.” (Nicknamed “433L,”
it became a 14-year joint program of both the Department of
Defense and the National Weather Service.) 433L is probably,
still today, the most extensive, far reaching, and overall effort
ever undertaken anywhere, fully to automate weather service,
beginning from automating weather observing, then automatically
processing and predicting the weather observed and ending up
with the tailoring of the predicted weather to the particular
needs of its final user. And through that effort -- impossible
and unsuccessful as it turned out to be, George Guy became widely
known, admired and enormously respected by many, many persons
throughout all the atmospheric sciences, throughout government,
industry and the academic fields.
Col. Guy was born on November 10, 1914 in Love Station, Mississippi.
In 1932, he graduated from Memphis Technical High School; and
from Memphis State University with a B.S., in 1936. In
1940, he started out as a sanitation engineer for the Mississippi
State Board of Health. But, he entered the AAF in December
1942 as an Aviation Cadet in meteorology at MIT and was commissioned
as a weather officer in April 1943, whereupon he was assigned
to the 18th Weather Squadron in England. After short, post
WWII assignments at Albany, Georgia and Turner AFB, George went
to UCLA; where,in Sept. 1947, he got his MA in meteorology and
was assigned to McDill AFB. In November 1947, he entered
the Weather Officers' Equipment Engineering Course. In November
1948 he was assigned at Andrews Air Force Base to Hq. AWS and
worked there directly under Dr. Sverre Petterssen as Chief of
Meteorological Equipment Development. In June 1952, he was
assigned to the Air Research and Development Command (later,
the Air Force Systems Command) at Baltimore, Maryland as Chief
of Meteorological Equipment Development, where he worked for
Col Ben Holzman, under B/Gen Don Yates. In June 1957, George
was assigned to the Geophysical Research Directorate at Bedford,
Massachusettss as the 433L Program Manager. In October 1958,
he was assigned to the Electronics Systems Division when it
was established, continuing as the 433L Director. In 1959
433L was expanded as a joint program for the Department of Defense
and the U.S. Weather Bureau. Until then, it was the largest
Federally funded program. In August 1962, George graduated
from ICAF, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, earning
also his second MA degree, from George Washington U. He ended
his military career as the program manager for he Air Force
Tactical Command and Control System at ESD, the Electronics
Systems Division of AFSC. After retirement from USAF, he
worked the next 15 years for the Ground Systems Division of
Hughes Aircraft Company, in Program Planning and Systems Administration.
He retired, finally, in 1991. He settled in Solana Beach,
near La Jolla, California. There he became a volunteer finance
manager and computer guru for Park Del Mar and the Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito. Col. Guy is survived
by his second wife, Alice, of 38 years; daughter Patricia Hecht
of Philadelphia; grandsons David Hecht of Roswell, GA and Stephen
Hecht of S.D.; brother and sister-in-law Charles and Lucille
Guy of Coppell, TX; and two great-grandchildren, Carrie Anne
and Justin. Submitted by: Robert C. Bundgaard
Leonard M. Dalton, CMSgt
(Ret.) 76, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. and Boise, Idaho passed
away in Boise, Idaho at the VA Regional Medical Center on Friday,
Jan. 12, 2007. He was born to Joseph and Stella Dalton on Aug.
28, 1930 in Los Angles, Calif. Leonard and his wife, Phyllis,
were married on Nov. 23, 1950 at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento,
Calif. He spent over 20 years as a meteorologist in the United
States Air Force and after retirement as a Chief Master Sergeant,
he continued his career with the National Weather Service in
Pocatello, Idaho. In 1968 Leonard and Phyllis moved to Pingree,
Idaho were they raised their children on a cow/calf ranch. Leonard
was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge in Blackfoot, Idaho.
He also enjoyed spending time as a ham radio operator and fishing.
Leonard and Phyllis spent many winters in Quartzsite, Ariz.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; four children, Gary Dalton
(Louise), Linda Albi (Todd), Don Dalton (Linda) and Chere Parker
(Cody); one brother, Robert D. Dalton, and 10 grandchildren,
Julie Dalton, Jenelle Dalton, Dawn Marie Dalton, Sarah Albi,
Maiah Albi, John Dalton, Keegan Albi, Colin Albi, Ian Parker
and Isaac Parker. Graveside inurnment services will be held
at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 19, 2007, at the Idaho State Veterans
Cemetery with full military honors in Boise, Idaho. Memorial
contributions may be made to your local Hospice organizations
or to the American Heart Association. Services are under the
direction of Cloverdale Funeral Home.
Lt. Col. Ron Tudor,,, 73, of Monument,
passed away on September 29th in Colorado Springs. He
is survived by his wife, Clara (Dickmann), five children (Rick
Tudor of Monument, CO, Susan Dallas of Goodyear, AZ; Elizabeth
(Baby) Wilson of Frisco, TX; Kenneth Tudor of Avondale, AZ;
and Douglas Tudor of Houston, TX), and three grand-children.
Ron was born July 20, 1933 in Greenfield, Ohio,
to Harold and Alice (Dixon) Tudor. After graduating from
the Universty of Cincinnati with a degree in Mechanical Engineering,
he married Clara on November 20, 1954. Ron joined the Air Force
in 1956, which sent him back to school. He received a degree
in Basic Meteorology from the University of Chicago and a Masters
in Meteorology from the University of Michigan. In all,
he served in the Air Force for a total of 23 years.
After retiring in 1980, Ron was very active in the golf group
at Woodmoor Country Club. He ran the Senior Inter-club
for many years. One of his most exciting days was when
he shot his age, actually under his age! Ron will be surely
missed. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made in his name to: Arizona Cancer Center,
1515 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724-5013. (800)327-2873.
KAUFMAN-Richard
Herbert, Lt. Col. (Ret),
 passed
away on December 22, 2006 in Bellevue, NE.
Richard was born to Elmer John Kaufman and Eleanora
Tilenda Anderson in Antigo WI on October 4, 1919.
While a young man Dick was a member of 4H, FFA,
and the Forestry club. After graduating from
Antigo H.S. in 1937, Dick worked at his dad's filling
station until he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin
in 1938 where he was a member of Delta Theta Sigma
Fraternity. Dick enlisted in the Army Air
Corps in 1942 and piloted B-17 bombers over Europe
during WWII (401st Bombardment Squadron, 8th Air
Force). He flew 35 combat missions including
air support on D-Day. Dick received numerous
citations including the Distinguished Flying Cross
for his extraordinary actions on a mission to Emden
Germany on December 11, 1944. Dick was grounded
from flight status after the war due to a heart
murmur, but continued to serve as a meteorologist
until he retired from the USAF in 1970. Dick's
service included tours in Newfoundland, Japan and
England. He sold real estate in Bellevue and
Omaha Nebraska for 15 years after retiring from
the military. Dick married Ardean Zimpel on
October 10, 1944 at Truax field near Madison WI.
Ardean preceded her husband in death in 1977.
Dick served as an Elder and Deacon at 1st Presbyterian
Church in Bellevue and was a member of the Kiwanis
and Eagles clubs for many years. He enjoyed
tinkering and repairing things and exhibited an
easy-going nature and personal charm. Richard
is survived by his sister, Mrs. Mary Oldenburg of
Wausau WI; his children, Laurian and husband, Harlan
Webre, of Cantonment FL and Richard K. (Rick) and
wife, Tamela Kaufman, of Ames IA. He has three grandchildren,
Richard Andrew Webre, Kelsey Kaufman and Kiera Kaufman.
Col Guy
N. Gosewisch, USAF (Ret),
age 88 of San Antonio Tx died Sep
30, 2006. He was a 29 year veteran of the USAF.
He was born in St. Paul, MN on May 8, 1918 to Emil Gosewisch
and Nellie Schaumburg Gosewisch. Guy was commissioned
as a second lieutenant in June 1941. His career included
assignments to Marrakech AB, French Morocco; Hqts AWS, Andrews
AFB; Offutt AFB Weather Central; Bushy Park, England Sq Commander;
Westover AFB 5th Weather Group Commander; Osan, Korea; Scott
AFB at AWS Hqts. Upon his retirement, he and his wife
owned and operated a KOA compground in Grand Junction, CO.
He and his wife moved to San Antonio and have lived there since
1978. His wife, Allene proceded him in death five years
ago. His daughters, Angela Seley of Schertz TX and Dore
Howell (and husband Chuck) of Memphis TN, grandchildren, Jonathan
Seley, John Schildknecht and Kari Wanzer and four great grandchildren
survive him. Funeral services will be held at 9:00 a.m.
October 4 at King of Kings Lutheran Church and interment at
Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to King of Kings
Lutheran Church, 13888 Dreamwood DR, San Antonio, TX 78233 or
Hospice of South Texas, 8721 Botts St, San Antonio TX
78217.
William W. Upchurch, Lt Col USAF (Ret) 85, passed
away on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at the Wadley Care Center in
Purcell, OK. Services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, September
16, 2006, at Havenbrook Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow
at the Blackburn Cemetery in Norman, Oklahoma. Bill was born southeast
of Lexington, OK on March 24, 1921 to John and Theo Upchurch. He
and his family eked out a living on the family farm and survived
the Oklahoma dust bowl. He received his secondary education at Buckhead
School and later graduated from Norman High School. His college
plans were interrupted when World War II broke out and he enlisted
in the Army Air Corps. Bill graduated from navigator school and
was sent to England to fly B-17 Flying Fortress bombers with the
“Mighty 8th” Air Force. From his base in Snetteron Heath in East
Anglia he flew many missions against enemy targets in Germany, France,
and other axis strongholds in Europe. After the war he returned
home to fall in love with and marry Martha Orene Dodd. Their Air
Force assignments took Bill and Orene to Japan, Germany and various
places in the USA, but they always provided a loving home for their
three children (Wesley, Phillip and Barbara). Bill obtained a M.S.
in Meteorology from Florida State University in 1958. He finished
his Air Force career as a Lieutenant Colonel working as a meteorologist
at Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt AFB, NE. Later he
established a second career with the Civil Service in the Central
Intelligence Agency. His expertise in meteorology was highly sought
after in many covert operations protecting US national interest.
Lieutenant Colonel Bill (Uppie) Upchurch was one of the World War
II heroes who have come to be known as “The Greatest Generation”
of Americans. He and his comrades represent the very finest we as
a nation offered in a time of grave national crises during World
War II and its uncertain aftermath. His military decorations include
several awards of the Air Medal, for meritorious achievement while
participating in aerial combat in Europe and Korea. In his
retirement years Bill pursued his passion for family history and
was actively with the Cleveland County Genealogical Society. Bill
Upchurch was a loving husband, father, and a patriot. He will be
missed by family and friends who loved him so dearly. Bill
was preceded in death by his parents, John Upchurch and Theo (Vanwinkle)
Upchurch, his wife Martha Orene (Dodd) Upchurch and his first son,
Wesley Wayne Upchurch. He is survived by his sister, Edna Burks;
his son, Phillip Upchurch; his daughter, Barbara Antozzi; five grandchildren,
Mistie Murphy, Christin Blue, James Upchurch, Brittney Antozzi and
Logan Antozzi; and two great grandchildren, Madison Blue and TJ
Murphey. Donations may be made in his memory to the Cleveland
County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 6176, Norman, OK 73070. Send
condolences online at http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/Obituaries.html
Lt. Col. Daniel Joseph Cotter (Ret.), who was born and
raised in Revere, Mass., passed away August 26, 2006, at his
home in Annapolis, Maryland; he was 76 years old.
Col. Cotter went to Immaculate Conception elementary and high
schools; he was a member of the Class of 1947.
He had suffered with spindle cell sarcoma of the mediastinum
since April 2005.
He attended St. Anselm’s College before entering the
military service. He was a fighter pilot and later
a meteorologist. Colonel Cotter served during both
the Korean and VietNam wars, flying 68 combat missions.
During that time, he earned numerous medals and citations,
including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star,
Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal
for service in Vietnam, an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
while in Korea.
He earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science
degrees from Florida State University. He retired
from the Air Force in July 1973 and entered the civil service.
He was the Chief Policy Advisor to the Administrator of
the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information
Service. He retired from Government service in December
1991.
He is survived by his wife Sheila (nee Collins) Cotter,
whom he married in April 1999, daughters Gladys Cotter
of Herndon, Virginia and Jean Cotter of Waldorf,
Maryland; son Daniel Cotter of Fredrick, Maryland; stepdaughter
Mary Brigid Frye of Annapolis, Maryland; stepson Timothy
Frye of Bel Air, Maryland; one sister Sister Jean Marie
Cotter of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed
Virgin Mary in Watervliet, New York, brother Michael Cotter
of Fayetteville, Pennsylvania; and five grandchildren.
Betty Zapinski Age 80 died peacefully Aug. 23, 2006, at
her home in Dupont, of cancer. Born in 1925 in Chicago, Betty majored
in chemistry at U/Chicago. In WW2, as a chemist on the Manhattan
Project, she worked at the site of the world's first nuclear reactor,
conducting research into the new element plutonium. Betty met her
husband, former B-17 pilot Leonard "Zip" Zapinski, in 1946 on a
blind date & married him less than a year later in 1947. They shared
a mutual interest in musical theater & appeared together in community
productions. When Zip joined the new Air Force, Betty embarked upon
a nearly 30-yr career as an officer's wife, joining him at duty
stations across the USA, in Spain & Japan. Betty was a dedicated,
active member in the Officers' Wives Club at each station, & participated
in numerous other volunteer activities benefiting local military
& civilian communities, such as staffing the Contact Peninsula crisis
help line in Hampton, VA. In 1977 Betty retired w/Zip to Tacoma,
where she began a career as a successful Realtor & founded her own
property-management firm, Double Z, Inc. Betty was preceded in death
by sons Paul & John, & her husband of 48 years, Leonard. She is
survived by children David, Steven & Mary, grandson Jackson, & sisters
Lourene & Millicent. Memorial service: 2:30 pm, Aug. 27, Patriots
Landing, 1600 Marshall Circle, Dupont. In lieu of flowers, donations
to: Franciscan Hospice program, c/o The Franciscan Foundation, PO
Box 1502, Tacoma, WA, 98401; and Best Friends Animal Society, 5001
Angel Canyon Rd., Kanab, UT 84741.
Louis A. Westphal, Lt Col (Ret.), 85, of Candler,
North Carolina, died Monday, June 12, 2006, at the John F. Keever
Solace Center of Mountain Area Hospice. Mr. Westphal was born
April 30, 1921, in Kendall, Wis., to the late Otto and Susie Westphal.
He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin,
Platteville and his master's degree from New York University.
He served in the Army Air Corps as a bombardier during World War
II and flew 35 combat missions over Germany. Following the war,
he flew three years of hurricane reconnaissance and followed that
with many years of productive service before retiring from the United
States Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. He was preceded
in death by his son, Bruce Westphal, daughter-in-law, Donna Westphal,
sister, Gertrude Westphal, and brothers, Henry and Lloyd Westphal.
He is survived by his loving, devoted wife of 62 years, Florence
Flo Westphal; sons, Roger, Mark, Jim (Joyce), and Jay (Lydia) Westphal;
daughters, Betty (Greg) Neal and Ellie (Doug) McCormac; grandchildren,
Stephen and Leslie Westphal, Aaron, Nathan and Danny Westphal, Matt
(Kristin) Westphal, Jenny (Chris) Bassler, Carrie Westphal, Harrison
and Jay Neal, and Rob and Claire McCormac; two great-granddaughters,
Olivia and Elyse Bassler; sisters and brothers, Ruth (Alvin) Cook,
Edward
Westphal, Alvera Eckelberg, Doris Matias, and Carl (Carol)
Westphal; and many nieces and nephews and their families.
A memorial service was held at 1 p.m. Friday, August 25th at Emmanuel
Lutheran Church with the Rev. Mark Nieting officiating. Interment
was in the church memorial garden with military honors provided
by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team. In lieu of
flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Emmanuel
Lutheran Church Building Fund, 51 Wilburn Place, Asheville, NC 28806
or the Asheville Branch of the American Red Cross Blood Bank, 100
Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC 28804. The online register is
available by going to Obituaries at
w.grocefuneralhome.com.
James William Zoller, 89, of Logan, UT died
Sunday, July 30, 2006 due to complications from a fall.
He was Meteorologist in Charge of the Omaha National Weather
Service Office from 1973 to 1987. Jim was born Oct. 18, 1916
at Manhattan, KS to Harper (a chemist) and Lavenia Zoller. He
grew up in Detroit and graduated from Cooley H.S. in 1936. He
attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA, where he met Kathryn
Joan Owen. On May 9, 1942 they were married in Fort Smith, AR
while Jim was in Army training. Jim began his military service
in the Army in the Quartermaster's Corps as a 2d Lieutenant,
but was soon selected to attend Calif. Institute of Technology,
where he received a degree in the pioneering field of weather
forecasting. Jim then served with the Weather Service of the
Army Air Corps. His service took him to England and France for
19 months. He traveled throughout France setting up weather
stations that helped the Air Corps forecast mainland weather.
Jim went into the Reserves on 1946, but was recalled to active
duty with the Air Force on 1951 during the Korean War. He spent
almost 11 months in southern Korea forecasting weather for the
Marine Corps. In 1955 Jim returned to the National Weather Service
where he had a successful 42-year career. In 1956 he moved his
family to what was then called the Territory of Alaska. Here
he raised his family and enjoyed moose and caribou hunting along
with salmon fishing. He was also stationed in Grand Rapids and
Detroit, MI, before becoming the Meteorologist in Charge for
the State of Nebraska. He retired at 70 years of age in Omaha.
At his retirement party, all the Weather Service personnel present
were called into the basement twice for tornado warnings - which
was even reported on Paul Harvey News! His wife, Kathryn, died
from cancer in 1975. In 1977 he married Marge Frost, who also
died of cancer in 1990. He then married Virginia Grace Oates
in 1991, and they continued to reside in Omaha until 2004. One
of his most unforgettable memories was surviving the Alaska
Earthquake of 1964 as he watched the air tower come down at
the Anchorage International Airport and helped in the rescue
of many people. Another unforgettable experience was being
the head Meteorologist during the Omaha Tornado of May 15, 1975.
His friends remember Jim's retirement party...and the tornado
warnings that drove all to the hotel basement during the party.
That had to be a 'first' for any retiring WSFO MIC. He enjoyed
traveling and enjoyed the many friends he had from Japan. He
was always known for his kindness, caring and love for others.
He is now resting in peace with our Lord and Savior. He was
preceded in death by his mother, Lavenia Richardson; father,
Harper F. Zoller; brother, Harper Filer Zoller, Jr. who was
killed in action in 1943 in the Army Air Corps and his sister,
Barbara Brockman who died in 2002. He is survived by his wife,
Virginia Grace Zoller suffering from Alzheimer's; son, William
Zoller of Woodinville, WA; daughter, Barbara Price of Logan,
UT; son, Robert Zoller of Longmont, CO; 12 grandchildren and
14 great-grandchildren. A small service was held in Logan,
UT at Pioneer Valley Lodge. He loved his friends at Pioneer
Valley Lodge, especially Richard and his little dog, Sugar.
When he fell, he was doing what he liked to do best, and that
was taking Sugar for a walk.
Gustav H. "Chip" Wendt., Jr., Lt Col (Ret.),
passed away July 15, 2006, after a long illness at the Health
Care Center of the Air Force Village II in San Antonio.
Col. Wendt was born on March 15, 1921, in Sacramento, California
to Gustav H. and Alice E. Wendt (Rooney). He was a Naval
ROTC midshipman at the University of California, but enlisted
as an Army Aviation Cadet on May 17, 1942, having already
earned his private pilot’s license. After graduating from
preflight training and ground school he attended primary
flying school in Oklahoma. He was a B-24 pilot in the 741st
Bomb Squadron (H), 455^th Bomb Group (H) in North Africa
and Italy, Chip was a major supplier of source material,
for Stephen Ambrose’s book, "The Wild Blue". He was separated
in 1945 after receiving training as a communications officer.
Shortly after marrying Marie, he returned to active duty,
in the Air Force, in March 1949 and attended the Air Force
Meteorology School at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois.
He remained active as an instructor pilot at a local airport
and later at various Air Force Aero Clubs. With his communications
training and engineering education he helped develop the
first weather satellites while assigned to the 4th Weather
Wing, Ent Air Force Base, Colorado. After retiring
from active duty he became the operations officer of the
4th Weather Wing as a civilian, and then worked for Army
Communications Command at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. He retired
from Civil Service, and worked for Western Union at Scott
Air Force Base, Illinois, and later at Fort Huachuca. He
had become active in Amateur (Ham) Radio while earning his
Eagle Scout Badge and continued with that hobby wherever
he lived. He was one of the last members of the Air Force
Village 2 amateur radio club. He remained a member of Alpha
Tau Omega fraternity which he joined at the University of
California. Gus was preceded in death by his son Kenneth,
his brother Philip, and son-in-law Paul Bown. He is survived
by his wife, Marie; son, Dana, and his wife, Dee; daughter,
Pamela Kellogg, and her husband, Danny; grandchildren, Daniel
and Tiffani Brown, Ryan, Matthew, and Jordan Wendt, and
Zach Kellogg. Interment will be at Fort Huachuca, Arizona
Cemetery in the near future.
MGen (Ret.) John Collens stated that, "Chip and I attended weather
school at Chanute together in 1949-50 and later served together
in the 31st WxSq at Ramstein in 1957-58."
BRIGADIER GENERAL W.C. MCGLOTHLIN JR., (1923-1998)
General McGlothlin died on July 31, 1998. His career included time
in Air Weather Service -- In September 1946 he was assigned to the
54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Morrison Field, Fla.; and
in August 1947, he went with the 54th Squadron to North Field, Guam,
where the unit became known as the "Typhoon Chasers." He served
as squadron training officer and assistant operations officer. Later
he was assigned to a special detachment that served as the weather
reconnaissance organization for the Sandstone Atomic Project on
Kwajalein Atoll. In October 1949 he returned to the United States,
where he was assigned to Headquarters Air Weather Service, Washington,
D.C., as the tactical inspector for the worldwide weather reconnaissance
system. In November 1950 he was selected as aide to General L.S.
Kuter, commander of the Military Air Transport Service, with headquarters
in Washington, D.C. His Air Force biography is at Web site:
http://www.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?bioID=6398
Edward F. Vermillion -- I would like to report the departure
of my long time friend and fellow Observer of the Korean War era,
Doctor of Education Edward F. Vermillion. We served together at
Tachikawa AFB in 1950 and in Korea at the start of the war. That
assignment was at Pohang K-3 on the east coast of Korea about 60
miles North of Pusan, which at the time was known as the Pusan Perimeter.
Our Commander was 1st Lt Albert Watson. As I am the last surviving
member of our detachment, I wanted to pass this information on Ed's
passing in Tucson, Arizona in 2003. Bill McKinney
Robert
C. Sibert, Lt Col USAF (Ret.) (1930-2006) of Yorktown,
Virginia passed away unexpectedly Thursday, April 20, 2006, at Riverside
Regional Medical Center. Robert was a Texas A&M graduate and retired
as a meteorologist after 27 years of service in the USAF, including
tours in Germany and Vietnam. He also worked directly in support
of Air Force One for several years. He then taught for 14 years
with both James City and York County Virginia School Systems. Robert
was born Sept. 7, 1930, in Hamilton, Ohio, and was the fourth child
of Charles and Ethel Sibert. He was a loving husband to his wife
of 52 years, Jytte B. Sibert, whom he met and married in Copenhagen,
Denmark; and proud father of Denise Youngblood, Scott Sibert, Stacey
Freitas and husband Tony, and Kristy McGhee and husband Brian. He
was also the proud grandfather of Mandy, Erika, Garrett, Elizabeth,
Anna-lise, Danielle, Rachelle, Ryan, Nicole and Cory. A memorial
service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 24, 2006 in Amory Funeral
Home, Grafton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made
to the York County Fire & Rescue/Life & Safety, P.O. Box 532, Yorktown,
VA 23692, or the American Heart Association, 500 Plume Street East,
Suite 110, Norfolk, VA 23510.
Archie Cantelou LeBron,
Col USAFR (Ret.) (1943-2006), died at his home on Hatchet Creek,
Rockford, Alabama on 29 March 2006. He had pancreatic cancer.
He was born in Montgomery, Alabama on November 13, 1943 to the late
Adolphe and Warree Carmichael LeBron. He was raised in Montezuma,
Georgia and the woods of Coosa County, Alabama where he returned
to build his retirement home in 2002. He was a graduate of Auburn
University, as well as Oklahoma University and the University of
Nebraska. He retired as a Colonel from the US Air Force Reserves
after serving around the world as a meteorologist. He also retired
from Texas Instruments in Dallas, where he lived with his wife and
children for 26 years. He was married to Linda for over 35 years.
His son, Graham, is a musician based in Oakland, California. His
daughter, Camille, is a pastor in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she
lives with her husband, Jonathan Powell. Archie was very proud that
his children chose to use their creative gifts to bring joy to others.
He is also survived by his sister, Sally Holland, and brother, Malcom
LeBron, and countless faithful friends and family. Archie’s
call in life was simply to be helpful to others. He lived a dedicated
and active life of faithful service to his church and community,
and to friends and strangers. He was a proud Presbyterian Elder
and his favorite hour of the week was teaching his Sunday School
class at First Presbyterian Church of Sylacauga. His last months
were filled with messages of love from all over the country, reminding
him of how important he had been in so many lives in so many quiet
ways. Following a private burial in the family cemetery on April
2nd, a Service of Witness to the Resurrection was held at First
Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Pete McElrath and other pastor friends
presiding. Friends and family gathered at his home the evening before
for storytelling and joyful remembering. In honor of his life, and
his love for the Alabama outdoors and the Presbyterian Church, the
Canoe Launch at the new Living River Presbyterian Camp & Conference
Center will be built in Archie’s name. Donations may be sent to:
First Presbyterian Church, 100 South Norton, Sylacauga, AL 35150
Charles H. Tracy, Colonel USAF, (Ret.) (1941-2006),
passed away April 4, 2006, after a courageous battle with brain
cancer. On July 13, 2005, he underwent a needle biopsy of the brain.
The biopsy revealed that Charles had a Gioblastoma Multiforme Level
IV Brain Tumor, located in the thalamus in the center of his brain.
It is one of the most malignant and difficult brain tumors to treat.
Charles was born on November 10, 1941 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
the son of Charles Claude (deceased) and Marjorie (Robison) Tracy.
Charles received his Bachelors of Science degree from the University
of Oklahoma and his MBA from Southern Illinois University. He served
his country for 32 years as a member of the US Air Force. His assignments
included being Commander of the 2nd Weather Squadron, Andrews AFB,
MD and Commander of the 4th Weather Wing, Peterson AFB, CO.
He retired as a Colonel in 1991 after serving as the AF Deputy Director
of Weather at the Pentagon. In retirement he moved to Phoenix, AZ
where he worked at Orbital Sciences Corporation and most recently
served as Vice President of Operations for Space Data Corporation.
A devout Catholic, Charles served as usher, lector, Eucharistic
minister and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a devoted,
loving husband and friend to Susan for 41 years and a amazing and
affectionate father, grandfather, son and brother. Charles was a
man of great integrity and compassion, a loyal friend and dedicated
professional and always the life of the party. He enjoyed traveling,
golfing, hiking, fishing and loved spending time with family and
friends. In addition to his mother Marjorie, Charles is survived
by his loving wife Susan (Veit) of Phoenix; one son Charles (Karen)
Tracy of Tulsa, OK; 2 daughters Dee (Rich) Butler of Las Vegas and
Debbie (Kit) Lambert of Phoenix; one sister Karen (Lance) Kelly
of Tecumseh, OK; and a brother Rusty of Corpus Christi, TX and 10
grandchildren. Visitation for friends and family will be Tuesday,
April 11 from 5:00-8:00pm with a 7:00pm Rosary Service at Carr Tenney
Mortuary, 2621 S Rural Rd, Tempe, AZ. A Resurrection Mass will be
celebrated Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 9:30am at Corpus Christi
Catholic Church, 3550 E. Knox Rd; Phoenix, AZ. Burial will be in
the National Memorial Cemetery, Phoenix, AZ. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association at:
http://www.abta.org/aboutus.htm
James R.
Miller, Capt USAF (Ret), age 85, passed away on March 1, 2006
in San Diego. He was born June 21, 1920 in Lincoln, Nebraska and
raised on a farm near Valley City, North Dakota. He graduated from
Valley City Teachers College. He served in the AAF as a meteorologist
in WWII and saw duty in Tokyo, Japan. After the war, Jim worked
as a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in San Francisco
and in the Fire Weather Forecast office in Boise, Idaho where he
met his wife Grace Lee and married in 1952. They soon moved to Fairfax,
Virginia when Jim worked at NWS headquarters. Jim later accepted
a two year assignment in Phoenix followed by a 5 year overseas assignment
in Saigon, Vietnam from1959-1964. Upon his return to the US, he
moved to Sacramento and headed that NWS office until he retired
in 1976. He moved to San Diego in 2002 to live with his son. He
was preceded in death by his wife Grace and a daughter Janet Smith.
He is survived by his son, Kenneth Miller of San Diego.
Capt. Luna B. Leopold, a WWII AAF weather officer, died on
Feb. 23, 2006 in Berkeley, Calif.; he was 90. Still around, some
of Luna’s wartime colleagues are Capt. Bruce Curtis of Boulder,
CO; Lt. Col. Don Cooke of Ithica, NY; Bob Allan of Palm Springs,
CA; and myself, Bob Bundgaard of Colorado Springs, CO. We remember
and profoundly admire Luna. We remember him, well indeed; as did
so many others of that era. Sadly many are no longer around.
Some deceased friends of Luna became nationally renowned. So, they
probably became also well known by many of you reading this AWA
obit file. One such friend was George Forsythe. George is but one
among others (whose names, unfortunately, don’t presently come to
my mind). And, among all of them, and their behalf, Bruce Curtis
and I feel it befitting that this little write-up, here in the Air
Weather Association, acknowledges this weatherman, a friend and
a truly Great American. A detailed obituary of Luna appears in today’s
(March 20, 2006) New York Times, on page A20.
Luna bsp; Luna
Bergere Leopold was born in Albuquerque. He was a Weather Aviation
Cadet in Class 4 at UCLA. He served in England and ETO. After
WWII, he degreed in geology at Harvard. Dr. Leopold melded these
two disciplines of meteorology and geology into his becoming a world
famous ecologist. He hung up his environmental hat at Pinedale,
Wyoming, but died on February 23rd out at Berkeley, California
Capt. Leopold, well, he was much more than just a guy who once drew
isobars with a pencil. He was more than just an aviation forecaster.
He was everything. A keen observer; he was absolutely fascinated
with cloud formations and cloudscapes. And also with landscapes,
too; in part he was also a self-made hydrologist, also a would-be
geologist and also a botanist. And he was not only just delving
into these natural interests, but also he prodded them with his
concern for their social values, too. He was a Nature-humanist,
but with a profound spiritual slant. I guess that you could really
call Luna Leopold a Renaissance Man.
And, he had a great, super
family. For many years Luna’s sister Estelle came each summer out
here to Floressant, Colorado, to teach here at the National Monument
and also to work in its fantastic fossil beds. As a docent there
I got to know Estelle, too; she’s a renowned paleobotanist, who
lives in Seattle. And Luna’s brother Carl, also a former weatherman,
is a botanist at Cornell, where AWA member Don Cooke, mentioned
above, is Dean of Research and Chemistry Dept. Head. And, Luna’s
dad Aldo was the author of the great, classic Nature book, "A Sand
County Almanac," about caring back in the thirties for life and
nature in a discredited Chicago suburb. -- As so many of you, I’d
been brought up on the Sand Count Almanac, along with the Keith
County Journal.
TTuck Forsythe, who is the son of Sandra and
George Forsythe, mentioned also above, founded the Desert Research
Institute (DRI), which is out in Moab Utah. As you may remember,
over the years DRI has been a very important Meteorological Research
Center. And, Luna once worked there along with Tuck and George,
and along with Estelle and Carl.
Another of Luna’s friend is
Bruce Curtis. (Bruce and I have been buddies ever since we were
together in the 4th grade at Steele Public School in South Denver.)
Bruce, mentioned above, is now a retired head of the Geology Department
at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He has also been Luna’s
close friend and colleague, from their AAF weather service years
during WWII. Another is Bob Allan, an AWA member and onetime head
of the USN PostGraduate School in Monterrey, California.
We’re
all so grateful to have been just a part of a great experience,
which included Luna Leopold, a most remarkable person indeed. indeed.
indeed. Bob Bundgaard, Colorado, March 20, 2006.
John
T. Cherry, CMSgt (Ret), died on February 20, 2006 in Belleville,
Illinois. He was diagnosed as having a brain tumor a few months
earlier. John was in weather equipment maintenance and retired from
7th Weather Wing at Scott. He had been stationed at 7WS in Heidelberg
back in the early 60s.
Henry Howard Klier (1929-2006)
and Ardis Shirley Klier (1924-2006)
One day, nine years
ago, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a letter in which the
writer wanted to know if I had been stationed at Westover Field,
Massachusetts, in 1947. The writer was Henry Klier. He had found
my address in the Air Weather Association roster. Back at Westover
in 1947 we were both working in Base Weather. In that same year
of 1947, Henry was transferred from Westover to Wold-Chamberlin
Field near Minneapolis. Not long after his transfer I received a
teletyped message from him. His note was the last communication
we’d have until that letter arrived 50 years later.
Upon completing
his Army Air Force hitch as a sergeant, Henry left the service to
help in the family’s garden nursery business; and he married his
beloved Ardis who became an accomplished artist. Though no longer
in it, Henry’s love for meteorology continued as great as ever.
Of his many ventures, the one that he always seemed the proudest
of was that hitch in the Air Weather Service of the Army Air Force.
Henry and Ardis would attend AWA reunions at St. Louis ’98, Las
Vegas ’00, and Dayton ’02.
I immediately responded to Henry,
and every spring when it was still cold in Minnesota he and Ardis
would visit with us here in warm Arizona. I would learn that he
was now called Howard, but out of that long ago habit I still called
him Henry. Marie and I would have wonderful times reconnecting with
that friendship that began with two 19-year-olds in khaki, and greatly
enjoyed our developing friendship with Ardis. Howard had become
a pilot. His early stint as a weatherman was deeply ingrained, making
him the kind of pilot who was acutely aware of the hazards weather
could present to the unwary. At their first visit, Howard and Ardis
arrived in their Piper Cherokee for a planned two-day’s stay. As
they prepared to depart, he had me download the surface and 500-millibar
weather charts. The charts were foretelling the kind of weather
that a good pilot would not fly into. So Marie and I then had the
pleasure of their company for several more days. We recalled times
in the past when two of us had similarly sweated out flights as
practicing weathermen.
One of the things that warmed our friendship
was Howard’s great sense of humor. One day he asked if I remembered
the day in 1947 when we both were off duty and hiked out to the
far reaches of Westover Field, following a trout stream. I had absolutely
no recollection of it and implied that Howard was just making it
up. But he insisted it had happened and even went so far as to claim
he probably had taken a photo of me along the trout stream, although
it would be hard to find, being packed away somewhere. I challenged
him to produce it, being quite sure he was just imagining it. But
several months later, our incoming mail included a large envelope
out of which came a photo of 19-year-old me, standing in trees obviously
beside the trout stream. Howard had found it, had enlarged it, and
made it into a wanted poster!
During the past couple of years,
Howard’s health started taking a bad turn, caused by a lung condition
that greatly worsened in the last few months. They would have to
miss the Cocoa Beach ’04 AWA reunion. On February 13, 2006, with
no previous indication of it, our beloved Ardis suddenly passed
away of a major heart attack. Only three days later, on February
16, 2006, Howard also passed away. They are survived by their son
Howard (Howie) and his wife Deb. Beyond measure, all of us who knew
them will miss Howard and Ardis Klier. Eulogy by Theodore L.“Ted”
Cogut CWO (Ret.)
Col (Ret) Robert Bosner Hughes USAF,
age 91, died January 21, 2006at The Hospice Care Center at Wuesthoff
Medical Center in Rockledge, FL. His wife, Jean; his daughter, Kim;
son, Christopher; and their families, survive him. Col Hughes attended
the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD and The Pennsylvania
State University. He joined AWS when WWII broke out and served in
many high level positions during the war. In Vietnam, Bob was the
Commander of the Weather Group and when he returned to the US he
served at AWS as Plans Officer as well as Comptroller and many other
key positions. He and Jean moved to Cocoa Beach, FL after he retired
in 1969. He was an active member of the Space Coast Retired AWS
Group. Friends and family are invited to a memorial service to be
held Saturday, February 18, 2006 at 2 pm in the afternoon at the
Cocoa Beach Community Church on A1A in Cocoa Beach, FL. His remains
will later be committed in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Cas Mendez-Vigo adds: I first met Robert when he came to Florida
State University accompanied by General Moorman, AWS/CC. They were
visiting the AWS meteorology class of 1952. Bob will be very much
missed. He was a kind, gentle, friendly man who tried to give a
helping hand to all who needed one.
BIDNER-Arthur,
Col. USAF (Ret.), age 73, died on January 16, 2006 in Bellevue,
Nebraska. He is survived by his wife, Carol; daughter, Susan and
her husband Jim Burns, Mansfield, MA; grandson, Benjamin; sister,
Fran Taub, Queens, NY; many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers,
memorials to American Heart Association. FUNERAL SERVICE will be
18 January, Wed 1pm, Capehart Chapel, 25th & Capehart Rd. Bellevue,
Nebraska Interment Temple Israel Cemetery. Col Bidner was DCS/Systems
at HQ AWS 1975-1977 and the Commander of the AF Global Weather Central
at Offutt AFB from 1978 -1981.
Cas Mendez-Vigo wrote -- Art
was a special friend of mine. He worked with me
at several jobs
and took over AWS/SY when I left AWS to go to MAC/AD. Art was smart,
honest and a hard working individual whom you could trust to do
his
best with any job. Art came to work at Harris Corp. after
I had been there a few
years. He did very well and was a highly
valued employee. I personally will
miss him and wish to honor
his memory for his dedication and loyalty. cas
Col. William
Edward Smurro, U.S.A.F. Ret.
“Bill” was born April 15, 1927
in Helena, MT to Nicholas & Catherine Smurro and left this earth
to be with his Lord on January 27, 2006. After moving to Los Angeles,
CA, he met and married Patricia Ruth Memory on August 12,1950. Bill
served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. After the war, he returned
to finish his degree at Loyola University L.A. in Civil Engineering.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served for 27 years with
the Air Weather Service. Bill attended the University of Washington
in Seattle, WA in meteorological science and received his master’s
in Research Meteorology from St. Louis University in St. Louis,
MO. During his 32 years of service to his country, he served in
various assignments that took him to Alaska, Puerto Rico, Japan
and Hawaii. He retired as a full Colonel and settled in Steilacoom,
WA where he designed and built his dream home with his three sons.
He and his Patricia have resided there for 28 years.
Bill
is survived by his beloved wife Patricia and seven children: Colleen;
Lori (husband Scott Adams); Gina (husband Ken); Nicholas (wife Rebecca);
Jan; Stephen; and Mark (wife Dana). He dearly loved and prized his
eight grandchildren: Aaron, Avery, Christopher, Allisha, Joshua,
Nathan, Nichole, and Nolan.
In lieu of flowers, please send
memorials to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, 825 Eastlake Ave.
E., P.O. Box 19023, Seattle, WA, 98109 or to the Caring Bridge (www.caringbridge.org
under Bill Smurro) or to the National Diabetes Research Foundation.
Col. (Ret. USAF) John Abbott (1923-2006) passed away
on Jan. 19, 2006, in Lakewood, WA at St. Clare Hospital after battling
lymphoma and pneumonia. John was born Nov. 17, 1923, in Huron, S.D.
He attended Iowa State University in Ames for two years before enlisting
in the USAF. John studied meteorology at Cal Tech and then proceeded
to Germany in WWII. After the war he returned to college and finished
his undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering at ISU. While
working at Westinghouse in Chicago he was called up for the Korean
war. John served his country for 32 years, being stationed in Paris,
Wiesbaden, the State Dept. and the Pentagon. He retired in 1973
and relocated to Oakbrook where he and Georgeanna enjoyed their
passions, golf, skiing, bridge, gardening, and fellowship in their
church, LCOP. John was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the Masonic
Lodge and the Afifi Shrine. He is survived by his wife Georgeanna
and sons Bruce and Hans (wife Kristeen). A memorial service
will be at 2:00 p.m., January 24, 2006 at the Little Church on the
Prairie, Lakewood, with full military honors. Contributions may
be made to Little Church on the Prairie.
Richard H. Langill,
CMSgt (Ret) died suddenly on January 15, 2006 in Plainfield,
New Hampshire. Dick told his wife that he was not feeling well.
Ginny called EMS but it was apparently too late to revive Dick.
Lt. Col. (Ret. USAF) Benton Ray Venable (1918-2006),
passed away peacefully Jan. 11, 2006. Ben was the first of three
children born to Thomas and Retta Venable Sept. 1, 1918, in Livingston,
Montana. Ben grew up on a ranch a few miles from Livingston with
his brothers Roscoe (Bud) and Sam until joining the Air Force in
1940. During World War II, in the 13th Combat Cargo Squadron, 4th
Combat Cargo Group, Ben flew C-46 aircraft over the China-Burma
Hump. While maintaining his pilot status, Ben expanded his military
career by becoming an Air Force meteorologist. He served in the
Korean War as the Air Weather Service’s weather forecaster, when
stationed in Tokyo, Japan, he was in the Inspector General’s Office,
when stationed in Washington, DC, he was the Detachment Commander
for Air Weather Service at the Pentagon, when stationed with the
7th Army in Stuttgart, Germany, in the G2 group, he received special
recognition from the base commander for his service as a meteorologist,
and upon retirement from the Air Force, after his last tour of duty
at Ft. Lewis, Washington, he received a number of letters of recognition
from commanding officers. During Ben’s military career, he was awarded
numerous commendations including: the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf
Clusters, the Commendation Ribbon in recognition of “Meritorious
United States Air Force Service,” the US Army’s Commendation Medal
for “Support of the US Army,” and most notably, the Distinguished
Flying Cross with an Oak Leaf Cluster. Many of the commendations
were earned flying over the China-Burma Hump as a “Hump Pilot,”
a service which is highly regarded by China to this day. Ben married
Virginia (Ginny) Dozier in Houston, Texas, in 1946, and they would
have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in May. They had
two children, Linda and Brian. Linda married Dr. Richard Spivey
and they had two sons, Matthew and Benjamin. Following Ben’s retirement
in 1964, while living in Lakewood, Washington, Ben enjoyed his favorite
sports of golf (at which he became an exceptional golfer with a
single digit handicap and 3 holes in one), fishing, and bowling,
and enjoyed his time as a volunteer at the VA Hospital. From Ben’s
love of fishing, the family always had a full supply of steelhead
and smoked salmon in the fridge. He enjoyed teaching his grandsons
to fish and play chess and poker. Ben was also an avid walker --
he enjoyed greeting neighbors while on his daily walks in Lakewood.
Ben is survived by his wife Ginny, his brother Sam, his son, Brian,
his daughter Linda and her husband Rich, their sons Matthew and
Benjamin, and Benjamin’s wife, Theresa. Ben’s family would like
to express their heartfelt appreciation to all the staff and volunteers
at the Pioneer Place Alzheimer Residence for making Ben’s final
time as joyful and comfortable as possible. In honoring Ben’s wishes,
no public service will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts
in Ben’s name may be made to The Madigan Hospital Foundation, P.O.
Box 98215, Lakewood, WA 98497.
Joe S. Restivo, age
79, a resident of Colorado Springs since 1956 and previously of
Herrin, Illinois, passed away on Friday January 6, 2006 at his home.
He was a Naval Officer, retired from Ford Aerospace and was a Meteorologist
with the US Civil Service at the Fourth Weather Wing at ENT. Joe
Sam Restivo was born on March 11, 1926 in Herrin to Sam and Johanna
(Guarnair) Restivo. He was a 1943 graduate of Herrin High School
and received both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from M.I.T.
He married Dolores A. Chandler on June 4, 1949 in Herrin. Dolores
survives and lives in Coloado Springs. He is also survived by son:
Dave Restivo and two daughters Debi (husband Bill) Becker and Cindy
Ashton, all of Colorado Springs. He also has two sisters: Annie
Riggio of Du Quoin, Illinois and Marie Fister of St. Louis, Missouri
and a grandson Jason Becker. Private family services will be held
on Wednesday, January 11,2006. Interment will be at the Evergreen
Cemetery. Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 East Fountain Boulevard, Colorado
Springs, CO 80910.
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