More detail on this person: Ira was born on May 31, 1945, to Ira and Wilma McComic in McKinney, Texas. He grew up in the cotton fields of Climax, Texas. Upon graduating as valedictorian of his Princeton High School class, he attended Texas Tech University before receiving his Bachelor of Science and Master's degrees in Computer Science at East Texas State University. In 1965, while attending Texas Tech University and working as a disc jockey for KSEL, as well as the school's radio station, he was introduced to Gretchen Pruett who also lived near Princeton. From the first time they met, Gretchen knew she would marry Ira, although he didn't have a clue. Ira joined the Army in 1967 and served with the 235th Aerial Weapons Company as a Cobra helicopter gunship pilot during the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969. Before leaving for Vietnam, he and Gretchen were married on June 22, 1968. They were faithfully and happily married for over 52 years. When he returned home, they moved to Plano, Texas in 1971 where he would spend the rest of his life. They had a daughter, Jennifer, and twin sons, Matthew and Andrew. While his children were younger, Ira was ever involved in coaching their softball, soccer, and baseball teams, and being a constant influence and guide in other organizational group activities. Although somewhat a mystery to others, he worked mostly in the world of computers beginning with EDS and Texas Instruments, and later in a few of his own start-up companies involving software engineering. Ira was a great public speaker, a history buff (especially Texas history), taught computer classes at the collegiate level, a blog writer, and a catfish and chicken fried steak connoisseur. But his main passion was aviation where he spent his later life learning about historic aircraft, building drones, and mastering the flight of gyroplanes. He was also a published author writing books about gyroplanes, computers, his experience in Vietnam, and historical and humorous fiction. He was proud of his Texas heritage, in particular his Collin County family roots that dated from the 1850s. Ira is survived by his wife (Gretchen McComic - Plano), their three children and spouses (Jennifer Bray - Parker, Andrew and Sally McComic - McKinney, and Matthew and Allison McComic - Wylie), his faithful dog (Barney), and six grandchildren (Cole McComic, Charlotte Bray, Brayden McComic, Emerson McComic, Miranda McComic, and Eden McComic) whom he loved dearly and fervently enjoyed every Grandparents' Day at school, watching them play sports, and teaching them to drive at the farm. He is preceded in death by his parents (Ira McComic and Wilma McDonald McComic) and his son-in-law (Jeff Bray). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Ira's name to the Vietnam Helicopters Association (https://www.vhpa.org/), the National Vietnam War Museum (https://www.nationalvnwarmuseum.org/), the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, or a charity of your choice.
This information was last updated 02/11/2021
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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