Author Archives: Larry Hames

Max A. Koontz
COLUMBUS — Max A. Koontz, 82, of Columbus, NC died Monday, February 13, 2012 in St. Luke’s Hospital, Columbus, NC.
Born in Kannapolis, NC, he was the son of the late Jennings Michael and Grace Thompson Koontz. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, having served in the U.S. Navy in the VP-4 Squadron before being honorably discharged in 1954. After his discharge he studied at NC State University, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering. Shortly thereafter he worked for the Navy as a Civil Servant. In 1984 he transferred to the Department of Energy in the Senior Executive Service. His total Government service was over 38 years. He retired in 1996, and then moved to North Carolina and in 2008 moved to Columbus to his dream house in the mountains. He was a 60 year Mason and a member of Advent Lutheran Church.
Surviving is his wife of 18 years, Rose Gwynn Koontz; one brother, Kenneth Michael Koontz (Dianne) of Concord, NC; two sisters, Gilda Kuhn of Salisbury, NC and Rosemerry Koontz of Concord, NC; one son Michael Koontz of Metamora, MI; four daughters, Christy Heussner (Robert) of Metamora MI, Sherry Koontz of Poolesville, MD, Kathy Koontz of Portland, OR, and Kelly Koontz (Steven Arabia) of Darnestown, MD; two stepsons Fred Smith of Silver Spring, MD and Pat Smith of Colorado Springs, CO; three stepdaughters, Theresa Gwynn of Colorado Springs CO, Catherine Kramer of Waldorf, MD and Susan Myers of Rockville, MD; grandchildren, Jens Panyard (Desiree), Jennings Alexander Heussner, Olivia Arabia and Samuel Arabia; two great-grandchildren Kamron and Connor Panyard; former wife Doris Koontz of Metamora, MI, and many other relatives and friends.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 16, at Advent Lutheran Church, Spindale, NC with Rev. Ron Fink officiating. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.
McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon, NC is assisting the Koontz family. Published in Charlotte Observer on February 16, 2012

Lavelle Tinker passed away June 3, 2011. He served in VP-4 from 1966 to 1975 as a Flight Engineer and served in VP-1 until his retirement from the U. S. Navy. He was laid to rest at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.

Charles E. “Chuck” Churchwell, 79, went home to his Lord on Sept. 25, 2007. He was born in Crestview, Fla., on March 30, 1928, to Walter and Audrey (Churchwell) Steele. Chuck served 20 years in the U.S. Navy, followed by 20 years as an auto instructor at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. His naval career remained his special memory. Chuck was a longtime member of Bethel Baptist Church in Ingleside, where he had many loving friends. Chuck is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Joyce (Sudbury) Churchwell; two daughters, Cynthia McCready of Florala, Ala., and Karen Finch and husband Guy of Lowell, Mass.; five grandchildren, Chad and Chris McCready, Charlene McCready Gunn, Ashley Negrete and Bethany Finch; five great-grandchildren; six nieces, Sharon Hicks, Donna Colley, and Sandra Moore, all from San Angelo, with whom he and Joyce shared many happy adventures and were at our side through many trials, June Johnson and husband Dick of Tavaris, Fla., JoAnn Carugno and husband Bill of Phoenix, Ariz., and Kay Sedden and husband Wally of Albuquerque, N.M.; two nephews, Dennis Sudbury and wife Helen of Oregon and Scot Sudbury and wife Karen of Cleveland, Ohio, and their children; one great-niece, Kaeli Walls; and a great-nephew, Mance Stark. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in the Garden of Prayer section. Chuck’s dear friend and former pastor, Brother Larry Johnson of Alpine, will be officiating. Services are under direction of Shaffer Funeral Home. Karen Quigley, a great-niece, and Bill Moore, a great-nephew, will be singing “Because He Lived” and “Amazing Grace.” A very special thank you to our friends Don and Marilyn Atkins and son Rob for their immeasurable support and friendship for the past 40 years as well as their other children, Denise, Ron and Michelle. The family would like to give a special thanks to the compassionate care providers at Shannon Memorial Hospital and to Hospice of San Angelo for their caring help.

Boyd E. White, age 70 of Leavenworth, Kansas passed away on July 10, 2011. Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday July 14 at the Alden-Harrington Funeral Home with burial of cremains to follow at a later date in the Big Creek Cemetery in Gridley, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorial Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society in care of the funeral home.Boyd was born on September 18, 1940 in Emporia, Kansas. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran serving on the USS Coral Sea. Boyd was a supervisor in the gift wrap department at Hallmark Cards, Inc. in Leavenworth, KS. After leaving Hallmark in 1986 he purchased Connell True Value Hardware in Cameron, MO. He worked many years in the printing industry and at the end of his long and successful career he was a sales manager at Inx. In Edwardsville, KS., Boyd was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife of 48 years Judy White of the home, two children Lori Van Fleet and husband Larry of Bonner springs, KS., Boyd C. White and wife Becky of Olathe, KS., two sisters Joyce Hanes of Leroy, KS., and Kay Baldwin of Emporia, KS., and five grandchildren.

ArrangementsAlden-Harrington Funeral Home214 Oak St. Bonner Springs, KS. 66012
913-422-4074

http://www.leavenworthtimes.com/obituaries/x910600518/Boyd-E-White

Robert LeRoy Douty Obituary: View Robert Douty’s Obituary by North Platte Telegraph.

Robert LeRoy Douty, 67, of Grandview, Mo., passed away June 28, 2011, at St. Joseph Health Center.
He was a computer consultant and proud member of VP Patrol Squadron 4.
He is survived by his wife, Rojean; sons, Todd (Ann) Douty, Doug (Marci) Douty, Perry (Kristin) Douty; daughter, Kim O’Banion; brothers, Dennis, Larry, Mike Douty; sisters, Nancy Titus and Wilma Douty; six grandchildren Drew, Megan, Krista, Adam, Ryan, and Angel.
Memorials are suggested to the American Kidney Association
Services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 1, at Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Mo., with visitation from 10-11 a.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. on Friday at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville, Mo.

WHITE, CAPTAIN RICHARD F.

US Navy (ret.) passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Born in 1934 in San Francisco, CA to Grace and Leslie White, he was the beloved husband of Katherine H. White, and adored father of Katherine W. Rogers (William), Richard F. White, Jr. (Kelly), and Inger Marie White, and grandfather to William Rogers V, Laura Rogers, Bryan White, Aidan White, and Anthony Bartolotti. He was the loving brother of Betty Carley and Leslie Loscavio (d.). He attended St. Ignatius H.S. in San Francisco, and was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. A highly decorated 30 year career naval officer, his diverse assignments included command of both aviation and sea born units. Upon retirement from the Navy, Dick continued his track record of service as a math teacher at Lumen Christi High School. According to his wishes cremation has taken place. The family will receive friends at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church at 10 AM, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM on Monday, May 16, 2011. The Reverend Timothy MacDonald officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to the USO at www.uso.org (2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite #1200, Arlington, VA 22201) or to the Fisher House at www.fisherhouse.org (111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850).

Al Reeder flew as a member of Crew 2 in 1959 and Crew 9 in 1961. He was later an instructor on the P-3 avionics systems and then the Avionics Chief in VP-26.

Alvin G. “Al” Reeder, ATCS, U. S. Navy Ret., 64, of Pensacola died Thursday, April 2. 1998.

Senior Chief Reeder was a native of Festus, Mo., and had resided in Pensacola for the past 30 years. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict and Vietnam, having earned the Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal with Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign with Device, six awards of the Good Conduct Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Georgia; his mother, Doris Reeder; his father and stepmother, Glen and Pauline Reeder; and sister, Glenda Hunt.

Survivors include his wife, Avon Reeder; a son, Dave Reeder and his wife, Vickie; a daughter, Kathy Turner and her husband, Lee; five grandchildren, Heather, Shannon, Amber, Summer, and Jacob; two stepsons, Howard and John Griffin; two stepdaughters, Ruth Cobb and Brenda Watson; eight step-grandchildren; three sisters, Helen (Gene) McMahon, Faith (Bud) Thurman and Connie Fredericks; and a brother-in-law, Debbie Hunt.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, April 6, 1998, in the First Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry Mosley and Dr. Henry Roberts officiating.

Burial with military honors will be in Barrancas National Cemetery.

OAK LAWN FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Published in the Pensacola News Journal, Sunday 5 April 1998, page 4C.

Melvin flew with Crew 9 during 1959 – 1960 and with Crew 10 during in 1961

Navy Halts Search For Lost Fliers

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (UPI)

The Navy called off the search Friday for three fliers missing after the inflight collision of two aircraft and declared them lost at sea in the line of duty.

Missing were the pilot of an A3 Sky Warrior attack aircraft, LT Deighton A. Hunt, 28: his flight officer. ENS Lonnie C. Gibson, 27, both stationed at Oak Harbor, Wash.: and their crewman, PO1c Melvin F. Colby, 31, of nearby Coupeville.

The two fliers aboard the second aircraft involved, LT John K. Sutor and LTJG Peter C. Carrothers, both of Sanford, Fla., Naval Air Station, were rescued in good condition by a helicopter from the carrier USS Enterprise when their RA5c Vigilante reconnaissance plane went down.

The planes, both from the Enterprise, collided about 25 miles south of San Clemente Island.  The Navy said the collision apparently occurred about 11:40 p.m. Thursday, the time they disappeared from the carrier’s radarscope.

Published in The Argus (Fremont, CA) 9 Oct 1966

COLBY, MELVIN F. Jr., Oct 6, 1966

Husband of Katherine Colby of Oak Harbor, WA.  Father of Terri, Donald, Brenda and Melvin F. Colby III, all of Oak Harbor, WA.  Son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin F. Colby Sr. of Eureka, CA.  Brother of Roy B. Colby of Palo Alto, CA, James H. Colby of USN, Florida.  He was a Petty Officer First Class with the U.S. Navy, which he had been with for 16 years.  He attended Eureka schools.  A native of Honolulu, Hawaii.  Age 31.  Memorial services were held at Ault Field Chapel, U.S.Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, WA., Oct 11, 1966.

Published in the Humbolt Standard, Friday, Oct 21, 1966, Pg 13.

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From http://www.a3skywarrior.com/