Don Service Obituary

Lt. Col. Don W. Service USAF (retired), age 79, died peacefully at his home on Monday, June 2nd. He was born September 19, 1928 to Marion and Ford Service in New Britian, Connecticut. Don took pride in his 24 years of service in the Air Force as a fighter pilot. He served in Vietnam as an F-105 Wild Weasel and a Raven FAC in Laos. He piloted the T6, T28, T33, F80, F86 (A, E, F and D), F94C, F89J, and F101B, F104G, F105 (O,F), F4 (E, D), O-1 Bird Dog, Scouts, Super Cub and the Beechcraft Bonanza. Don's latest piloting career was that of a Tow Pilot towing gliders at the Air Force Academy. Don was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in action along with numerous other decorations. He was an avid fly fisherman and bow hunter and cherished the years spent on Colorado streams and mountains. He is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Valerie and her husband Mike Lesser, son William and his wife Sally. He adored his 7 grandchildren, Seth, Lauren, Holly, Andrew, Christian, Ashley, Laura and two great grandchildren Isaac and Jake. Surviving also is his sister, Joan Price, of Brattleboro, Vermont. A memorial service will be held at the Air Force Academy on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. at the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel. A reception will follow at the Academy Falcon club. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, 825 East Pikes Peak Ave., Suite 600, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3624 www.pikespeakhospice.org