More detail on this person: William F Montgomery Jr, 40 MONTGOMERY Montgomery, 40, was Army pilot San Antonio Express-News (TX) - Saturday, December 14, 1991 Chief Warrant Officer William F. Montgomery Jr., 40, was a master Army aviator and instructor pilot with 23 years in the service. He was assigned to Fort Kobbe, Panama. He often visited his parents in San Antonio, retired Col. (Chaplain) and Mrs. William F. Montgomery, and called on residents of Air Force Village I with them. His father is former pastor of the Protestant Church there. The junior Montgomery was an avid runner and competed in the New York City Marathon in 1990, beating the goal he had set for himself. He was competing in a six-mile charity race at Fort Clayton, Panama, on Saturday when he collapsed after his heart stopped beating. Waved to friend "My son had raced up a hill, smiled and waved to a chaplain friend of his with a 'thumbs up' sign and collapsed," his father said. "He was already unconscious when the chaplain got to him. "My son was the front-runner in the charity race in his age category." Montgomery was born in Heber Springs, Ark., while his father was pastor there. He graduated from high school in Colorado Springs, Colo. He joined the Army and completed a bachelor's degree in business at St. Leo College in St. Leo, Fla. While Montgomery was stationed at Fort Hood, he was trained in helicopter medical-evacuation at Fort Sam Houston. In 1971 he and Linda Phillips were married in Mineral Wells. After completing his pilot training at Fort Rucker, Ala., he was stationed in Korea and had two assignments in Germany. Montgomery earned his master's degree in business from George Washington University last February and was sent to Panama in June. "My son was physically fit, was a devout Christian gentleman and was very witty," his father said. "A trail of humor followed him, as he was a great practical joker. "He called himself 'Wonder Man' and wore a crazy outfit to social events and dining-ins. This was a Superman costume with cape and included an old-fashioned pilot's helmet with goggles, red long johns and cowboy boots. "When he was going to be transferred from Germany to Fort Eustis, Va., one of his Army buddies sent a poster of him in this get-up to his commander. His 'fame' as Wonder Man preceded him." Additional survivors are his wife; two daughters, Rebekah Montgomery and Sarah Montgomery; a son, William F. Montgomery III; and a sister, Carolyn Lynch of Dallas. His family had accompanied him to his duty station in Panama. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday in Porter Loring Mortuary. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
Burial information: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX
This information was last updated 10/18/2019
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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