More detail on this person: Col.William B. Dyer, 91 Col. William B. Dyer, 91, died Sunday, April 20, 2008 at Greensprings Village Retirement Community, Springfield, Va., from complications due to a fall. He was born Jan. 16, 1917 in Dahlonega, Ga., to Mary Jane and William Joseph Dyer. He started from very modest beginnings, helping his parents run a small general store, lived through the Great Depression and through hard work and determination attained the rank of Colonel in the US Army. He lived a full and productive life in interesting times, witnessing the transition from outhouses to indoor plumbing, from horsedrawn wagons to jet aircraft, from reading by kerosene lamps to the invention of color TV and computers, and from men exploring the last geographical unknowns of the earth at the north and south poles to men walking on the moon. He was united in marriage to the former Charlotte Lee Davis of Leesburg, Fla. in 1942 and had five children, two boys and three girls. He greatly missed his wife of 58 years, a devoted Army wife and mother who preceded him in death on Dec. 28, 2000. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Mary Jane and William Joseph; his sister, Glanca McKendree of Anniston, Ala.; and brother, Joseph A. Dyer of Roanoke, Va. Survivors include his sons, William B. Dyer Jr. of Annandale, Va. and Kenneth E. (Carol) Dyer of Acworth, Ga.; daughters, Beth D. (Allan) Anderson of International Falls, Minn., Susan D. (Dave) Parisi of Lorton, Va., and Patricia G. (Donald Boothby) Dyer of Springfield, Va.; grandchildren, Erin L. (Shannon) Adams, Thomas G. (Lacey) Parmeter, all of Minneapolis, Minn., and Matthew D. Parisi of Lorton, Va.; greatgrandchild, Madison L. Adams of Minneapolis, Minn.; one sister, Vee Doyle of Dahlonega, Ga.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. "The Colonel" or "Pop Pop" as he was affectionately known, was a true Southern gentleman who provided a good home for his family, imparting his own strong values and high personal standards to them. He saw that all his children received a good education and skills to succeed in life. He loved gardening and his "green thumb" provided many a neighbor and family member with fresh tomatoes and other vegetables. In his retirement years he looked forward to his annual fishing trip to Atlanta with sons Ken and Bill and treasured the love and devotion of his three daughters - Beth, Sue, and Trish. He attended North Georgia College in Dahlonega for two years before transferring to the University of Georgia where he received a BS degree in Commerce in 1937. He began his military career in 1938 as a 2nd Lt. and was integrated into the Regular Army, Transportation Corps, in 1947. Over the course of his 33 years of service to his country, he served in World War II, China, Japan, Germany, Vietnam, and numerous stateside locations to include Ft. Benning, Ga. and Washington, D.C. Some of the many honors he received during his career were the Senior Army Aviator Badge, the Legion of Merit with 2 oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, a variety of campaign medals from WWII and Vietnam, and induction as a Distinguished Member of the US Army Transportation Corps Regiment in 1997 based on his numerous career achievements. He was a member of the American Helicopter Society, Delta Sigma Pi International Business Fraternity, Association of the US Army, the Dahlonega Lions Club, and the Army Aviation Association of which he was a past president. He was also a 32nd Degree Mason. Services with full military honors will be held on July 22, 2008 at the Old Chapel, Ft. Meyer, Va. at 11 a.m. followed by interment at Arlington National Cemetery. There will be a reception at the Officers Club at Ft. Meyer immediately following the burial. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to one of the following: Capital Hospice, the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, TAPS (a tragedy assistance program for military families who have lost a loved one), or the Fisher House Foundation which provides places to stay for military family members whose loved ones are hospitalized on military bases or in VA medical centers.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 10/24/2017
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association