FLETCHER, Eugene (Age 91) Of 520 Abbott Road, Walla Walla, passed away
February 12, 2013, at Providence St. Mary Medical Center. He was born
October 21, 1921, in Dayton, Washington, to Orie and Lela Winnett
Fletcher. He attended school in Starbuck and country schools near
Dayton. After his sophomore year in high school, he went to the East
Coast as an apprentice jockey. For nearly two years, he rode on the
tracks on the Eastern and Mid-West Racing Circuit. Overweight at 101
pounds, he was forced to end that career. He returned to Dayton and
graduated from Dayton High School with the Class of 1940. In the fall of
1940, Eugene enrolled at Whitman College and studied pre-law for two
years. During that time, he was also enrolled in the Civilian Pilot
Training program at the college sponsored by the U S Government. There,
he received his civilian pilot's license. In June 1942, he enlisted in
the U S Army Air Forces as an Aviation Cadet. While attending Whitman,
he met Evelyn Sherrod on a blind date. They were married in Walla Walla
on August 25, 1942. He was called to active duty January 1, 1943 and
graduated as a pilot and second lieutenant on November 3, 1943. After
more advanced training, he was assigned a crew and served as lead pilot
on a B-17 bomber with the 8th Air Force, 95th Bomb Group, 412th Squadron
based at Horham, England. He flew 35 combat missions over enemy
territory including a Shuttle Mission from England to Russia to
Trezbinia, Poland, and back to Poltava, Russia, then to Bazau, Romania,
landing in Italy. After several days in Italy, they flew back to England
bombing an air field in Toulouse, France, in support of the Allied
Southern Invasion. After World War II, he lived in Pasco for four years
before moving to Tekoa, Washington, where he lived for over 50 years. He
served another tour of duty during the Korean Conflict
and remained in the Air Force Reserve retiring as a Major in 1974. He
was a farmer in the Tekoa area until his retirement when he moved to
Walla Walla. Farming was his life work but he wrote two books which were
published by the University of Washington
Press. The readers' response was overwhelming. He also enjoyed
traveling and his family. Eugene was a member of the Washington State
School Directors' Association for many years serving as chairman of the
State Legislative Committee, a member of the Tekoa Community Church,
Daedalian Society, VFW,
Washington Wheat Growers and other farm organizations. Survivors are
his wife, Evelyn, at the family home, sons and daughters-in-law David
and Dorothy, and Jim and Linda, all of Tekoa, Gary and Gloria, Waipahu,
Hawaii, and daughter and son-in-law, Sherry and Terry McConn of Walla
Walla, 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren. Survivors also include
two brothers, Gerald of Tekoa and Cecil of Dayton, three sisters, Leora
Patton, Spokane, Cletys Bowen, Dayton, Alma Elaine Wolfe, Bellingham,
and numerous nieces and nephews. A reunion celebration of life will be
held Saturday, February 16, 2013 at the Fellowship Hall of the Tekoa
Community Church. Those attending are asked to gather at noon to share
refreshments followed by the celebration of Eugene's life. Memorial
contributions may be made to the Tekoa Ambulance Fund or Whitman County
Hospice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder
Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Family and friends are invited to sign
the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.
Published in Spokesman-Review on February 15, 2013
Enable social reading to share important obituaries with your friends.
|
Bookmark this memorial on Facebook with the
My Memorials™ application. My Memorials™ helps you honor departed family
members, friends, and even favorite celebrities – all on your Facebook
page.
Thank you. You have now memorialized on Facebook.
|
The My Memorials Facebook app allows you to:
- Connect with memorials that are important to you.
- Get updates on your memorials in your Facebook News Feed.
- Share your memories with your Facebook friends.
|
|
|
You are searching
|
|
|