NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

KC-97 refueling an RB-47E inflight.

This page is dedicated to Association news and announcements. On this page I will have marriages, births (of members new babies only), address changes, deaths and any other worthy items. If members will call me and give me their news I can keep it current. All notices will appear in random order or as they come to me. Members need not be on-line to place a news item. If you have a friend that has a computer you can e-mail me. Just a phone call will get your news out to the world.

NOTICE OF CHANGE

As of today I will be leaving all notices in the news section.  I now have the web space so the news items will not be removed when they go out of date.  This will allow our members to go back and review any new they may have missed. When time permits I will go back to see if I can find past news items.

• 3/7/04 - NEW FEATURE - A new section has been added to the Reunions page. It is a list of pictures of almost all of the members and guest that have attended at least one of our runions. There is also a page of pictures of members and guest that are unknown to me therefore these have no names. If you recognize any of the pictures please email me and I will put the name on it and post it in its proper place. You can go to the Reunions page to view the pictures or click on the button below to go directly to the pictures.
  
  
  
  
  

  HERE'S THE NEWS

  
• 1/15/08 - Charles E. Turnipseed - Forrest Ogden emailed and informed the Association the he read in the Air Force Times that Col Charles E. Turnipseed had passed away. Details unknown.
  
  
• 7/9/07 - Travis McCain - Nick Carter emailed to let the Association know that Travis 'Tweety' McCain Checked off interphone 01/08/08 for the last time. Cause unknown.
  
  
• 7/9/07 - Betty L. Tabyanan - Betty was the wife of Enrique Tabyanan. Betty passed away on 4 July, 2007.   She died of Small Cell cancer that started in her brain and metastasized to her bones and lung. From diagnoses to death was less than two months. Betty was on the Reunion Committee and helped make all 12 reunions a success.  
  
  
• 5/3/07 - David H. Heller - Dave passed away on 3 May. 2007.   Notification came from Dave Roberts by email. Dave had been battling with Parkinson Disease for several years. He was assigned to the 70th (1LT - CP - 10/61-6/63).  Click here for Dave's obituary page
  
  
• 4/29/07 - Curtis Hilton Peacock - Curtis passed away on 27 Apr. 2007 in Eastman, GA.  I was notified by the webmaster of the 482 F.I.S. Curtis was assigned to the 70th (TSG - CRCHF - 6/56-1-/57)  Click here for Curtis' obituary page
  
  
• 4/12/07 - Guthery "Gus" Hall - Gus passed away on 7 Apr. 2007.  I was notified by Claudine Hall by email. Gus died in the hospital after a long battle with cancer. He retired 1968 and lived in Cabot, AR. He was assigned to the 70th (TSG - FE - 6/57-3/63).  Click here for Gus' obituary page
  
  
• 3/24/07 - Jack A. Mc Haffie - Jack passed away on 30 Dec. 2005.  I was notified by Jeanne Mc Haffie by email. He was assigned to the 70th (TSG - MAINT - 10/60-8/61).  Click here for Jack's obituary page
  
  
• 10/27/06 - Brian J. Donnelly - BJ passed away Oct 16 '06.  I was notified by Nick Carter via email. He was assigned to the 70th (MSG - BO - 9/55-7/58).  Click here for BJ's obituary page
  
  
• 10/27/06 - Edmund J. Hayes - Ed passed away Oct 16 '06.  We were notified by his daughter Cindy via email.  Click here for Ed obituary page
  
  
• 10/27/06 - Joe G. Ross - Joe passed away in Oct '06.  Joe and his wife Nell were regulars at our reunions, attending in '85, '87, '89, '91, '93, '95, '96, '97, '99.   He was a MSgt when he was stationed at Little Rock AFB (MSG - IBO - 10/55-11/58)  Click here for Joe's obituary page
  
  
• 9/23/06 - Clifford O. Doss - Clifford passed away in Sept '06.  Clifford came to three reunions '85, '91 & '93.   He was a Capt when he was stationed at Little Rock AFB (CPT - IN,Stbd - 10/55-9/57 - 2/56-6/59) Click here for Clifford's obituary page
  
  
• 4/29/06 - John J. Dowds - John passed away on the 26th of April '06.  John was a regular at our reunions until his health began to fade due to cancer.  John was assigned to the 70th Air Refueling Squadron in the 60s after the squadron upgraded to KC 135s.  He flew as an A/C.  Although he only knew one or two people when he attended his first reunion in '95, he became a regular until illness prevented him from attending in '03.  He attended the '95' '96, '97, '99 and '01 reunions. John was well liked by all of the friends he made at our reunions.  He will be missed by his friends and neighbors.  Click here for John's obituary page
  
  
• 3/5/06 - Charlie I. Dupree - Charlie passed away on the 3rd of March, 2006, he was 88 years old. Charlie was a Line Chief in the KC 97 Maintenance Squadron.  He and his wife, Lynda, were member of our reunion committee and attended all of our meetings, when weather and health permitted.  He will be missed by all.  Click here for Charlie's obituary page
  
  
• 3/5/06 - Rodney "Chico" Gorman - Henry Hill sent me the news by email. Henry read it in the obit section of the MOAA. I have no other information.  Click here for Walt's obituary page
  
  
• 10/28/05 - "Walt Boise" - Walt passed away on 14 Nov at home. He died of Kidney Failure. There will be a viewing on 15 Nov and then the remains will be cremated. The passing of a friend is always sad news but Walt was a friend to so many of us that the loss will be that much greater. Click here for Walt's obituary page
  
  
• 2/17/05 - GEORGE BIGGERSTAFF - George passed away, after a long bout with cancer, a little after midnight on the 17th of Feb. George was a Boom Operator in the 70th Air Refueling Squadron from Feb 56 to May 63. He was a crew member on Elmer Leinaar and Charles Buchanan's crews. George was a large gruff talking man with a heart of gold. He will be missed by his many friends as well as his family. Click here for George's obituary page

• 9/12/04 - GROVER C. "SMILEY" AND JEAN INGRAM - Jean passed away on 3 Jan '04 of ovarian cancer and Smiley died 3 weeks later. Smiley died of a massive heart attack but his daughter believes it was of a broken heart. Anyone that knew Jean and Smiley would agree with their daughter. They were married almost 60 years. Click here for Smiley's obituary page
  
  
• 7/25/04 - GENE OWENS - Gene Owens passed away on the 25 of July '04. Gene died of massive brain and lung cancer. Gene was a great supporter of the reunions and he will be sorely missed. Gene attended all 11 reunions that were held in Jacksonville, AR. Click here for Gene's obituary page
  
  
• 6/16/03 - DOROTHY BEENE - Dorothy Beene was the wife of Curtis Beene. Both were members of the 70th Air Refueling Association and attended many of our reunions. Curtis was a crew chief. Click here for Dorothy's obituary page
  
  
  
• 6/16/03 - EDMOND J. "RED" DENMAT - Edmond "Red" Denmat died of Liver Cancer. I have no other information at this time. Ed Gartland called me and he said as soon as he gets any further info he will call me and I will pass it on to you. Click here for Red's obituary page
  
  
• 12/5/01 - DORIS LEAVELLE - The passing of DORIS LEAVELLE the wife of GAINES LEAVELLE. It was in the obit colum of the San Antonio news paper yesterday. Grave side services are to be at the National cemetary at 1400 today at FORT SAM HOUSTON here in San Antonio.
  
  
• 12/21/01 - KERMIT A. GUNTHER - Nick Carter emailed me to informed me that Kermit A. Gunther passed away in Nov. at the VA hospital in Little Rock, AR. Kermit was a Boom Operator and flew with Fred Dieckmann and Richard Reid while at Little Rock AFB. Click here for Kermit's obituary page.
  
  
• 11/14/01 - JOHN I. MANGUM - Nick Carter call and informed me that John I Mangum passed away on the 6th of Oct. 01. He said John died of Heart Failure. He was living in Oregon at the time. Click here for John's obituary page.

• 7/31/2001 - JOHN R. CAMPBELL - John R. Campbell passed away Thursday, 26, 2001. He was 79. Memorial services was held at 10:00 am Monday, July 30, at the Little Rock AFB Chapel. The obit doesn't state the cause of death. John lived in Jacksonville and worked the First Commercial Bank as Purchasing officer and Mailroom supervisor. Click here for John's obituary page
  
  
• 2/15/2001 - BETTY HOWARD - Betty Howard, the widow of Col. Wayne Howard, died on Dec. 24th, 2000. She died of complications from Congestive Heart Failure while asleep. Click here for Gene's obituary page
  
  
• 11/9/2000 - ROBERT 'JACK' LOOMIS - Today we lost one of our finest members. Jack Loomis passed away at 5:31 PM. Louise called me tonight to give me the news. The funeral arrangements are not set at this time. At this time she plans to have visitation Saturday and a grave side ceremony in Pine Bluff, AR. Jack was the driving force of all of our reunions. It was through his time and hard work that made our times together a joy. Click here for Jack's obituary page
  
  
• 4/23/2000 - JACK PROLLACK - Jack Prollock Col. Ret died on April 13,2000. George his brother emailed today. He gave no other details. Click here for Jack's obituary page
  
  
• 3/17/2000 - JAMES FITCH - James Fitch was still on the active list. He died about 2 years ago. His wife Billie is listed on the deceased list which is correct. She died about one year before he did.. Click here for Jim's obituary page
  
  
• 9/2/99 - DAVE ROGERS Dear Association members, we have lost another of our friends. Dave had been visiting an aunt in Illinois. He had checked out of the motel and was about 15 min. on the Interstate, on his way back to Florida, when he pulled over and suffered a massive heart attack. A state trooper found him. Dave was a quiet man who attended all of our reunions. If you didn't know him, he and Bill Erwin cooked the hamburgers at our picnic. He will be missed. Click here for Dave's obituary page
  
  
• 1/18/1999 - ENVER 'Tag' PAINTER - Tag Painter, an old boom Operator from the 70th passed away on the 7th of Jan. He had been ill for a long time. I talked to Walt Boise today and he said, since Tag had his heart attach he had been going down hill and the old body just finally gave up. Click here for Tag's obituary page
  
  
• 1/1/1999 - BRIAN HANDYSIDE - Brian died yesterday, apparently of cirrhosis. Mary, his wife, said he had been in a lot of pain, and she was thankful that it was finally over for him. She also said that the funeral home had him in his uniform, and that he looked very nice.. Click here for Brian's obituary page
  
  
• 12/29/1998 - LARRY MARTIN - Larry M Martin LC Ret was in the 70th only. He was crewed with Chuck Finley and Fields Jackson. He died in 1993 after a brief illness with leukemia. Last known PCS was Warner Robins AFB, GA. Widow is Mrs. Clara Martin. Click here for Larry's obituary page
  
  
• 10/23/1998 - JOE GREGG - Joe Gregg died yesterday, Oct. 22, 1998 at the age of 77. He passed away at home in bed. Joe had been suffering from cancer for several years. It started with Lung Cancer and spread to other parts of his stomach. Joe and Betty were regulars at our reunions in Jacksonville, AR. Click here for Joe's obituary page
  
  
• 8/15/98 - LUIS BRILLAS - Lu died 24 July of multiple liver, bowel & kidney failure. He was in the hospital for 3 months but we all thought he'd pull out of this too. His wife said the damage over the years was just too much. Click here for Lou's obituary page
  
  
• 7/21/98 - WILSON W. HOWARD - Col. Wilson W. Howard has passed away. He died yesterday, July 20,1998, after a long bout with cancer. Nick Carter call me tonight and told me the news. We didn't get to talk long but he said he would call again tomorrow night and give me the particulars about the funeral. I'm sorry I don't haven't more information to give you at this time but as soon as I know more I will pass it along to you. Gentleman, I know you will join me in a moment of silence for the man that was our commander and our friend. He will be missed Click here for Col Howard's obituary page
  
  
• 6/2/98 - BARNIE DANIEL - Barnie Daniel died June 1, at 5:43 PM. He was in the hospital in Huntsville, AL. He died of a collapsed lung, complicated by emphysema. Barnie was 74 years old. Services will be held at Laughlin Chapel in Huntsville, AL on Thursday June 4, at 1 PM. Click here for Barnie's obituary page
  
  
• 2/21/98 - JAMES E. CLANTON - I was informed that James E. Clanton had passed away. Jim was the NCOIC of the Boom Operator section at LRAFB from 1955 to 1961. Jim was a special kind of man, in that he was the first Boom Operator the Air Force produced. Trained at Boeing Company, he trained the first generation of In-flight Refueling Specialist. Jim was a friend to all and he will be missed. Click here for Jim's obituary page
  
  
• 11/9/97 - SHIRLEY FITCH - John Waymack called me today and told me that James Shirley Fitch age 72, died last Saturday. He said he saw it in the paper today. The funeral will be tomorrow at the Cabot funeral Home.
  
  
• 3/15/97 - KENNY GRIMES - Kenny was the most enthusiastic supporter of the reunions. He was the MC of the seven reunions that he attended. Kenny was the life of any party, he was fun loving and happy go lucky. Without him the reunions would not have been as successful as they are. Kenny was just good people.
  
  
• 12/29/04 - NEW FEATURE - A new feature has been added to the Deceased Page of this site. A small profile of each deceased member has been added. If you visit the page and have information or a photo for a member please contact "tab" Tabyanan, so that I can update the profile.
         
  
  
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