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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