More detail on this person: Lt. Col. (Ret.)
Gerald J. Lange of Auburn, Ala., passed away
Wednesday, June 26, 2013.
Jerry was born on July 15, 1934 at Barberton
Hospital and grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio. He
graduated from Kent State University with a BS
degree in math education. Jerry was a good athlete
and in college he was on the basketball and tennis
teams.
After graduation he was commissioned into the
U.S. Air Force. He married his high school
sweetheart Barbara Springer, on June 9, 1957 and
for the next 20 years they moved around the
country and began their family. They had two
daughters, Michelle and Nancy.
During his career his piloting experience included
flying F-100's, T-33's and B-47's. He continued
his education getting a BS in electrical
engineering from the University of Colorado in
1964. From 1964 to 1965, he served as an
electrical engineer with the Air Force Systems
Command in California.
The family arrived in Selma, Ala. in June of 1965
where he served as a T-38 instructor pilot,
assistant flight commander and chief of officer
training at Craig Air Force Base. Jerry earned his
MS in education foundations from Troy State
University and in 1971 he served his country in
Vietnam. He flew rescue helicopters (H-1, H-3, and
HH-53 Jolly Green Giants).
Jerry and his family next moved to Auburn in 1972.
He was assigned to the Auburn University
AFROTC. He retired from the Air Force in 1976 as a
Lt. Colonel and Command Pilot with over 4,000
flying hours.
His military awards include the Distinguished
Flying Cross, the Presidential Unit Citation, the
Air Force Commendation Medal, the Vietnam
Service Medal and a Meritorious Service Medal.
After his career in the Air Force ended Jerry
worked as assistant director of the Engineering
Extension Service at Auburn University and he also
spent a few years as a real estate agent.
Jerry was a loving husband to Barbara, a caring
father to Michelle and Nancy and a wonderful
grandfather to Adam, Jack and Rachel.
He was preceded in death by his beloved Barbara
Lange; his parents, Edward and Hilda Lange; his
father, Jack Alderfer; and his son-in-law, Leonard
Levin.
He is survived by his daughters, Michelle K.
Stevenson (David) of Moore, S.C. and Nancy J.
Levin of Auburn, Ala.; grandchildren, Adam, Jack
and Rachel Stevenson of Moore, S.C. His brother,
George (Lorna) Alderfer of Easton, Pa.; and his
sisters, Betty (Harry) Ruppel of Wadsworth, Ohio
and Nancy (Ted) Payn of Lodi, Ohio. In his later
years Jerry enjoyed his church family and
participating in church activities. Thank you to
the doctors, nurses and staff of EAMC and Bethany
House for their excellent care.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, June 29,
2013 at Trinity Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. with
Pastor Hudspith officiating. Graveside service
with Military Rites will follow at Town Creek
Cemetery. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home &
Crematory is directing.
www.jeffcoattrant.com
Published in Akron Beacon Journal on June 29,
2013
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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