Lenawee County MI Archives Obituaries.....Alexander, Richard W. August 23, 2004
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Tecumseh Herald
Purse Funeral Home

Lenawee County, Michigan

 

Richard W. Alexander, 
of Milan, Michigan, passed away after a long illness at Arbor Hospice August 
23, 2004, at age 84. He was born in Edgerton, Ohio. 

During WW II, he served as a B-24 bomber pilot in the Pacific Theater with the 
Jolly Rogers - 5th Air Force, 90th Bomb Group, 320th Bomb Squadron. He had a 
strong camaraderie with his crew, and he continued to stay in touch with them. 
During the Vietnam era, he was called back to serve his country for 18 months 
with the 305th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron from Selfridge Air Force 
Base in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. As a Command Pilot, he flew over areas in the 
South Pacific where he had bombed during WW II and which had been rebuilt. He 
retired from the Air Force with the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1972.

His civilian flying career began at a small airfield near Bryan, Ohio, in 
1938. He flew for commercial airlines transporting cargo, race horses and 
people. One of his most memorable flights was in 1978 piloting the Triple 
Crown winner Affirmed back to Lexington, Kentucky, to be met by world-wide 
news media and a crowd that included the governor of the state. 

He owned Cessna 172's, his favorite airplane, and he leased them to operators 
at Monroe Custer and Ann Arbor, Michigan, airports. During his career, he 
taught many people to be pilots and was very proud of those who went on to fly 
commercially. During his career, he earned multiple ratings - from piston to 
jet engine aircraft.

Golf was his favorite sport. He played courses worldwide and spent many happy 
hours at Tecumseh Country Club with special friends during his later years. 

His is survived by his wife of 57 years, the former Marilyn Beerbower from 
Bryan, Ohio; his daughter Carol and Kevin Carbary; his sister Mrs. Norma 
Giffey; and nieces and nephews. 

He was predeceased by parents Guy and Susanna, six brothers and a sister.

Plans are being made for his cremains to be placed in Arlington National 
Cemetery, Washington, D.C., with his fellow Jolly Rogers.

Memorials may be made to the Milan Public Library Expansion Project Building 
Fund. Visit www.libraryyes.com for information.

Condolences and remembrances may be offered at www.pursefuneralhome.com.


 







 


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