More detail on this person: William Pearson
Shea, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Ret.), 77, of
Beavercreek Ohio, formerly of Pawcatuck, passed
away on June 2, 2015, in Dayton, Ohio.
Born in Westerly, R.I. on Dec. 25, 1937, he was
the son of the late Edwin F. and Christina M. Shea
of Pawcatuck. He is survived by his wife of 50
years, Benita (Randol), son & daughter-in-law,
Scott & Anne (Melvin) Shea, grandchildren, Emma
G. and William F. Shea, two sisters, Edwina
Crandall of Pawcatuck, Conn. and Jane Nigrelli of
Westerly, R.I., sister-in-law, Sandra (Jim) Haley
of Edgewater, Fla., cousin, Jane M. Bailey of
Pawcatuck and numerous nephews, nieces, and
cousins.
He was a graduate of Stonington High School
(1955) where he lettered in basketball and
baseball. He graduated from the University of
Connecticut (1959) with a baccalaureate degree in
Business Administration with a major in
Accounting. Upon graduation from UConn, he
received a reserve commission as a Second
Lieutenant and entered the United States Air
Force. After three years of active duty, he was
offered and accepted a regular commission. While
in the Air Force he completed graduate studies
with Golden Gate University, Troy State
University, and Central Michigan University. Lt
Col Shea served in the Air Force for more than 28
years, retiring at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio in
1987. He held a Command Pilot rating and
accumulated more than 5,000 hours of flying time
in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. He served
as a commander of an Aerospace Rescue and
Recovery Service detachment and was qualified as
an aircraft commander, instructor pilot, and test
pilot. As a rescue helicopter pilot in Vietnam, he
accumulated over 200 combat missions and was
involved in the recovery of numerous allied
personnel from hostile territory. His combat
actions resulted in the award of two Distinguished
Flying Crosses and nine Air Medals. Other
overseas assignments included duty in Japan,
Guam, and England. In addition to his flying
assignments, he spent eleven years of his career
as an internal auditor and program manager with
the Air Force Audit Agency. During his Air Force
career, he accumulated more than 50 awards and
decorations. These included the Distinguished
Flying Cross w/oak leaf cluster, Meritorious
Service Medal w/3 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal w/8
oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal
w/3 oak leaf clusters, the Republic of Vietnam
Cross of Gallantry w/Palm as well as numerous
other awards. After his retirement from the Air
Force, drawing on his background in the financial
field, he became a tax consultant for 18 years. He
was a 3rd Degree member of the Knights of
Columbus, a charter member of Council 14209 at
the Univ. of Connecticut, and a member of Council
21 in Westerly, R.I. A Mass of Christian Burial
will be held on Friday, June 5 at St. Helen
Catholic Church, for family and close friends,
with Fr. David Brinkmoeller officiating. Interment
will follow in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of
flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of
Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, OH
45420.
Please visit www.NewcomerDayton.com to leave
the family a message of condolence.
Published in The Westerly Sun from June 4 to June
25, 2015
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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