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: 01/11/2025
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