Memorials › J. V. Pilcher
J. V. Pilcher
28 Feb 1916 – 22 Jan 2003
| Birth | 28 Feb 1916 |
| Death | 22 Jan 2003 |
| Cemetery | Cook-Walden Memorial Hill Cemetery Austin , Travis County , Texas , USA |
| Added by | The Closet Skeleton Genealogical Society on 16 Apr 2019 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39423197 |
Gravesite details
On same stone as Anne Pauline Pilcher
Bio
J.V. Pilcher, retired Air Force CWO-4, died Wednesday, January 22, 2003. J.V. was born February 28, 1916 to Gomer Pilcher and Comilla Harvil Plumlee in Ballinger, Texas. His older brother, Gomer Boyd, resides in San Lorenzo, California and his younger brother Kenneth Oran resides in Auburn, California. J.V. grew up in Cisco, Texas. As a young man he worked as a truck driver helping to build the Buchannan, Inks, and Possum Kingdom dams. He also played guitar in a Texas Swing Band and was proud to have seen Bob Willis and his Texas Playboys play in Cisco several times. He entered the U.S. Army on October 14, 1939 joining the Army Air Corps. He went to Tech School at Chanute Field, Illinois. While stationed at Chanute Field, he and a friend went to a dance in Danville, Illinois where he met Anne Pauline Stump. Two weeks later, on August 31, 1941, he and Polly married. They remained married until Pollys death on August 8, 1988. During his 29 years of service, first in the Army Air Corps, then the Air Force, JV was primarily an aircraft mechanic. During WW II, however, while stationed at Kimbolton, England, he was a nose gunner-toggleier on B-17s, completing [35] missions. Also, while stationed at Kimbolton, his squadron was "reviewed" by then Princess Elizabeth. He enjoyed showing photographs taken then of Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, and Princess Anne. Following the end of WW II, JV was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone where his son Jay Vernon was born in 1947. Later he was re-stationed at Chanute Air Force Base where he was an instructor in aircraft mechanics. His daughter Lynn Ann was born there in 1956. J's final station was in Tucson, Arizona, but was assigned to Bien Hoa, Viet Nam. He was chief of mechanics for the U-2 and "Lightening Bugs" which were used for ariel surveillance photography, which was then used to determine troop movements. J V retired from active duty with the Air Force on July 31, 1968. During his military career JV received many awards, commendations, and medals. After retiring from the military, JV became a real estate agent and later a Realtor, owning his own company. He loved helping families get into homes of their own, frequently gifting them with something for their new homes. JV was never completely comfortable being "retired" always looking for something new to keep him occupied. He loved to garden, go RVing, but found his favorite retirement escape to be genealogy. He was a member of the Austin Genealogical Society. He traveled around the U.S. searching for his "roots", which he discovered went back to the 1680s in the United States. He also loved going to family reunions. His other great love was the Lady Longhorn Basketball team. He was a season ticket holder for many years and, with his best friend Marge Brito, tried never to miss a home game. JV enjoyed the Masonic Lodge as a young man and was proud of the fact that he took his 3rd degree, becoming an A.F. and A.M. at York Castle, home of the York Rite, while serving in England during WW II. He was a member of the Hill City Lodge. [JV has several grandchildren and two great-grandchildren (names omitted for privacy).] JV will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Though there are no real words that can be used, the family would like to deeply thank the caregivers and staff of the Christopher House, Hospice Austin, for the kindness shown during J's final days. They would also like to thank all of JV's friends who visited during his final illness. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Monday, January 27, 2003 at the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home. Interment followed with Full Military Honors and Masonic Rites at Cook-Walden Memorial Hill Cemetery. (submitted by Annette Foster Ditto )
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US ARMY US AIR FORCE WWII KOREA VIETNAM Beloved Husband
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