More detail on this person: Colonel (Ret)
Watson D. Burnfield passed away on February
16th, 2017 at the age of 84. He was born in
Marietta, Ohio on October 9, 1932 to Ira and Lucy
Mae Burnfield. He spent his childhood and early
adult life in Athens, Ohio where he graduated from
high school and college. Entering the Air Force in
1954 from the R.O.T.C program at Ohio University,
he spent his next 30 years of loyal and dedicated
service to his country. After completing officer
orientation at Lackland AFB, he entered flying
training at Hondo Air Base. Returning to Athens in
December of 1954, he married his high school
sweetheart Nona Green, to whom he was happily
married to for 52 years. Mrs. Burnfield passed
away suddenly in August, 2007. The Burnfield's
have three children, son Dean of San Antonio,
daughter Lori and husband Matt Smith of McKinney
Texas and son David and wife Wendy Burnfield of
Aubry, Texas. They have 5 grandchildren: Chris,
Meghan and Tyler Smith and Taylor and Kyle
Burnfield and one great granddaughter - Charlotte
Smith. Brother - Ret. Brig. General Charles
Burnfield and wife Sandy Burnfield of Cumming, GA.
Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Colonel Burnfield's early military days were spent
flying. He was a command pilot accumulating over
5,500 hours of flying time in many different types
of aircraft, including helicopters. In 1963 he
served as a Minuteman Missile Crew Commander
at Whiteman AFB, where along with his military
duties, he earned his MBA degree from the
University of Missouri. In 1968 he was assigned to
DaNang Air Base, Vietnam, where he became the
chief helicopter pilot for the famed "Jolly-Green
Giant" Air Rescue Squadron. He flew over 250
helicopter missions over Vietnam and was credited
with saving over 6 lives according to an Air Force
news release. Back to the US in 1969, he returned
to Vietnam many times flying C-141 aircraft from
Robbins AFB, GA. His many decorations included
the Defense Superior Service Award, the Legion of
Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious
Service Medal and the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf
clusters.
After retiring in October 1984, he spent many
hours of volunteer work, first as an income tax
advisor and then at N.E. Baptist hospital. A
longtime resident of Windcrest, Texas; he was
elected as their Mayor in 1989 and served for six
years in this capacity. While Mayor, he served on
San Antonio's Metro Planning Organization,
represented Bexar County cities on the Alamo Area
Council of Governments, and in 1994 was elected
Chairman, Bexar County Council of Mayors. He
was also a lifetime member of Masonic Paramuthia
Lodge #25 - Athens, Ohio. He served on the Board
of Directors of The Ronald McDonald House and is
an alumni of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. In 2006
the Burnfield's moved to the Army Residence
Community where he continued to enjoy gardening
and playing golf at Windcrest. After the passing
of Nona, he married Claudia Milam in 2009 where
they continued to reside and enjoy living at the
ARC. Other survivors include; sister-in-law and
brother-in-law Marcia and Len Cochran and
sister-in-law Ruth Branchick of Tacoma, WA.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday February 28th,
2017 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Colonial Funeral
Home in Universal City. Funeral Services will take
place on Wednesday, March 1st, 2017 at 12:30pm
at Colonial Funeral Home with interment to follow
at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full
military honors. Funeral Service will be
officiated by Chaplain Ray Davis
Burial information: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
This information was last updated 02/26/2017
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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