More detail on this person: Anthony "Tony"
Cominos died on Dec. 9, 2014, in Oklahoma City
and was buried with full military honors in Post
Cemetery at Fort Sill, OK. He was born May 26,
1927 and educated in Salinas, to Mitchell N. and
Argero A. (Alexandidis) Cominos.
Tony married Cola Jean Coffey on March 14, 1956.
She preceded him in death on Dec. 24, 2003. At
age 17, he volunteered for service with the
Maritime Service (Merchant Marine) during World
War II, and served in the Pacific and Atlantic war
zones as an able body seaman. Upon his release
from the Maritime Service he purchased an Army
Air Corps surplus airplane, PT-19, learned to fly
and earned his civilian pilot's license.
Lt. Col. Cominos enlisted in the U.S. Army on Nov.
13, 1950. After his training, he was assigned to
the Military Police School at Camp Gordon, GA. As
an enlisted man he volunteered to attend the Army
Cargo Helicopter Pilot's Course at Fort Sill.
He was one of the first Warrant Aviators in the
Army and served as a combat Cargo Helicopter
Pilot with the 13th Cargo Helicopter Company
during the Korean War, and later he served two
combat tours, 24 months, as a helicopter and fix
wing pilot in Vietnam.
Lt. Col. Cominos retired from the Army with 21
years of service. His military awards and medals
were numerous and in recognition of his lengthy
service and involvement in the Korean and Vietnam
wars as a combatant.
He established the financial planning corporation
- Cominos and Associated Incorporated, and served
as president and chairman of the board. He was
licensed as a real estate broker, insurance agent
and securities agent, and retired from this
occupation after 29 years. He was an avid golfer
and had five holes in one during his golfing
career. He was a member and past president of the
Fort Sill Men's Golf Association. He was also a
member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church and
served as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, Lector and
Usher.
Survivors include his daughters, Cassandra J.
Cominos of Edmond, Pamela A. Wingfield and
spouse Gary, of Oklahoma City; son, Richard G.
Cominos and spouse Ann, of Milpitas, and their
children, Richard G. Cominos Jr. and spouse Lisa,
and Matthew N. Cominos; brother, the Rev. Peter
M. Cominos and spouse Ann, of East Towas, MI;
five grandchildren, Brenda A. and spouse Landon
Brown and their daughter, Leriah Brown; Nicola
Jane Wingfield, James Mitchell Ray and spouse
Allison Cameron, and their daughter due Jan. 1,
2015; Richard Cominos Jr. and spouse Lisa and
Austin and Tyler Cominos; sisters-in-law, Gloria
McAllister and spouse John, Grace Riffle, Zelda
Epley; and brother-in-law, Jose Anorga.
Lt. Col. Cominos was preceded in death by his
parents; wife; sister, Mary Kastros; and a
sister-in-law, Daisy Anorga.
An online guest book and sympathy cards are
available at www.beckerfuneral.com
Published in The Salinas Californian on Jan. 23,
2015
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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