July 22, 1922 - June 2, 2017
COl Gerald C. Dial, 94, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2017.
Gerald was born on July 22, 1922, in Montevallo, MO, to Charles and Bertha Dial.
Gerald was a member of the Greatest Generation. Raised during the Great Depression, he
developed grit and determination that guided him throughout his successful life. In 1942, Gerald
married his beautiful wife, Wanda, months before he entered service in the Army Air Corps. He would earn his pilot wings and flew aircraft such as the PT-19, BT-13, AT-10, and B-24. As Gerald
completed pilot training, World War II ended and he left the military to pursue civilian aviation. He
worked as an instructor pilot, crop duster, and flew for several companies.
In 1950, the Korean War began and Gerald was recalled to duty in the United States Air Force as a B-29 pilot. He and his crew later won a Strategic Air Command (SAC) Bombing and Navigation
Competition. Drawing on his success from the competition, Gerald was tasked with establishing a B- 29 stanoarorzanon scnooi. As his career progressed, he qualified as a B-36 and B-52 pilot.
During the Vietnam War, Gerald was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, near Saigon, where he
served as the Executive Officer for the Director of Operations. He flew 37 B-52 missions
while in the country. Later, he was stationed in Germany for over three years where he served as the Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff for European Forces.
After his overseas tours, Gerald returned to the U.S. at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas, where he served as the Deputy Base Commander. At Barksdale AFB, in Bossier City, LA, Gerald served as the Director of Administration for the 2nd Air Force. He retired in 1973, as a Colonel with over 32 years of distinguished service.
After his military career, which included approximately 33 moves, Gerald focused on .
spending quality time with his beloved wife, Wanda, and their three children; Darrell, Terri, and Robin.
His growing family reached nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Gerald and Wanda
eventually settled in Fort Worth, where they remained for many years. In 2012, after 69 years
of marriage to Gerald, Wanda passed. On Friday, June 2, 2017, Gerald joined Wanda in Heaven. He lead an honorable and fascinating life, leaving behind an amazing family to carry on his lineage.
Rest in peace, Jerry!
Gerald was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Wanda Dial; parents, Charles and
Bertha Dial; siblings, Lois Neas, Delmar Richmond, and Val Dial; son-in-law, Chris Patterson; and
grandson, Ryan Patterson.
Survivors: Sister, Marilyn Wilkinson; son, Darrell Dial and wife, Carol; daughters, Terri Patterson of
Monument, Colo., and Robin Garmen and husband, Jeff of Collierville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Patrick, Jason, and Rusty Dial, Erin Staltare, Nicholas Patterson, Ashley Edmonds, Kyler and Shelby Garmen; and 11 great-grandchildren.
COl Gerald C. Dial, 94, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2017.
Gerald was born on July 22, 1922, in Montevallo, MO, to Charles and Bertha Dial.
Gerald was a member of the Greatest Generation. Raised during the Great Depression, he
developed grit and determination that guided him throughout his successful life. In 1942, Gerald
married his beautiful wife, Wanda, months before he entered service in the Army Air Corps. He would earn his pilot wings and flew aircraft such as the PT-19, BT-13, AT-10, and B-24. As Gerald
completed pilot training, World War II ended and he left the military to pursue civilian aviation. He
worked as an instructor pilot, crop duster, and flew for several companies.
In 1950, the Korean War began and Gerald was recalled to duty in the United States Air Force as a B-29 pilot. He and his crew later won a Strategic Air Command (SAC) Bombing and Navigation
Competition. Drawing on his success from the competition, Gerald was tasked with establishing a B- 29 stanoarorzanon scnooi. As his career progressed, he qualified as a B-36 and B-52 pilot.
During the Vietnam War, Gerald was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, near Saigon, where he
served as the Executive Officer for the Director of Operations. He flew 37 B-52 missions
while in the country. Later, he was stationed in Germany for over three years where he served as the Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff for European Forces.
After his overseas tours, Gerald returned to the U.S. at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas, where he served as the Deputy Base Commander. At Barksdale AFB, in Bossier City, LA, Gerald served as the Director of Administration for the 2nd Air Force. He retired in 1973, as a Colonel with over 32 years of distinguished service.
After his military career, which included approximately 33 moves, Gerald focused on .
spending quality time with his beloved wife, Wanda, and their three children; Darrell, Terri, and Robin.
His growing family reached nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Gerald and Wanda
eventually settled in Fort Worth, where they remained for many years. In 2012, after 69 years
of marriage to Gerald, Wanda passed. On Friday, June 2, 2017, Gerald joined Wanda in Heaven. He lead an honorable and fascinating life, leaving behind an amazing family to carry on his lineage.
Rest in peace, Jerry!
Gerald was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Wanda Dial; parents, Charles and
Bertha Dial; siblings, Lois Neas, Delmar Richmond, and Val Dial; son-in-law, Chris Patterson; and
grandson, Ryan Patterson.
Survivors: Sister, Marilyn Wilkinson; son, Darrell Dial and wife, Carol; daughters, Terri Patterson of
Monument, Colo., and Robin Garmen and husband, Jeff of Collierville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Patrick, Jason, and Rusty Dial, Erin Staltare, Nicholas Patterson, Ashley Edmonds, Kyler and Shelby Garmen; and 11 great-grandchildren.
July 22, 1922 - June 2, 2017
COl Gerald C. Dial, 94, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2017.
Gerald was born on July 22, 1922, in Montevallo, MO, to Charles and Bertha Dial.
Gerald was a member of the Greatest Generation. Raised during the Great Depression, he
developed grit and determination that guided him throughout his successful life. In 1942, Gerald
married his beautiful wife, Wanda, months before he entered service in the Army Air Corps. He would earn his pilot wings and flew aircraft such as the PT-19, BT-13, AT-10, and B-24. As Gerald
completed pilot training, World War II ended and he left the military to pursue civilian aviation. He
worked as an instructor pilot, crop duster, and flew for several companies.
In 1950, the Korean War began and Gerald was recalled to duty in the United States Air Force as a B-29 pilot. He and his crew later won a Strategic Air Command (SAC) Bombing and Navigation
Competition. Drawing on his success from the competition, Gerald was tasked with establishing a B- 29 stanoarorzanon scnooi. As his career progressed, he qualified as a B-36 and B-52 pilot.
During the Vietnam War, Gerald was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, near Saigon, where he
served as the Executive Officer for the Director of Operations. He flew 37 B-52 missions
while in the country. Later, he was stationed in Germany for over three years where he served as the Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff for European Forces.
After his overseas tours, Gerald returned to the U.S. at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas, where he served as the Deputy Base Commander. At Barksdale AFB, in Bossier City, LA, Gerald served as the Director of Administration for the 2nd Air Force. He retired in 1973, as a Colonel with over 32 years of distinguished service.
After his military career, which included approximately 33 moves, Gerald focused on .
spending quality time with his beloved wife, Wanda, and their three children; Darrell, Terri, and Robin.
His growing family reached nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Gerald and Wanda
eventually settled in Fort Worth, where they remained for many years. In 2012, after 69 years
of marriage to Gerald, Wanda passed. On Friday, June 2, 2017, Gerald joined Wanda in Heaven. He lead an honorable and fascinating life, leaving behind an amazing family to carry on his lineage.
Rest in peace, Jerry!
Gerald was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Wanda Dial; parents, Charles and
Bertha Dial; siblings, Lois Neas, Delmar Richmond, and Val Dial; son-in-law, Chris Patterson; and
grandson, Ryan Patterson.
Survivors: Sister, Marilyn Wilkinson; son, Darrell Dial and wife, Carol; daughters, Terri Patterson of
Monument, Colo., and Robin Garmen and husband, Jeff of Collierville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Patrick, Jason, and Rusty Dial, Erin Staltare, Nicholas Patterson, Ashley Edmonds, Kyler and Shelby Garmen; and 11 great-grandchildren.
COl Gerald C. Dial, 94, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2017.
Gerald was born on July 22, 1922, in Montevallo, MO, to Charles and Bertha Dial.
Gerald was a member of the Greatest Generation. Raised during the Great Depression, he
developed grit and determination that guided him throughout his successful life. In 1942, Gerald
married his beautiful wife, Wanda, months before he entered service in the Army Air Corps. He would earn his pilot wings and flew aircraft such as the PT-19, BT-13, AT-10, and B-24. As Gerald
completed pilot training, World War II ended and he left the military to pursue civilian aviation. He
worked as an instructor pilot, crop duster, and flew for several companies.
In 1950, the Korean War began and Gerald was recalled to duty in the United States Air Force as a B-29 pilot. He and his crew later won a Strategic Air Command (SAC) Bombing and Navigation
Competition. Drawing on his success from the competition, Gerald was tasked with establishing a B- 29 stanoarorzanon scnooi. As his career progressed, he qualified as a B-36 and B-52 pilot.
During the Vietnam War, Gerald was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, near Saigon, where he
served as the Executive Officer for the Director of Operations. He flew 37 B-52 missions
while in the country. Later, he was stationed in Germany for over three years where he served as the Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff for European Forces.
After his overseas tours, Gerald returned to the U.S. at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas, where he served as the Deputy Base Commander. At Barksdale AFB, in Bossier City, LA, Gerald served as the Director of Administration for the 2nd Air Force. He retired in 1973, as a Colonel with over 32 years of distinguished service.
After his military career, which included approximately 33 moves, Gerald focused on .
spending quality time with his beloved wife, Wanda, and their three children; Darrell, Terri, and Robin.
His growing family reached nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Gerald and Wanda
eventually settled in Fort Worth, where they remained for many years. In 2012, after 69 years
of marriage to Gerald, Wanda passed. On Friday, June 2, 2017, Gerald joined Wanda in Heaven. He lead an honorable and fascinating life, leaving behind an amazing family to carry on his lineage.
Rest in peace, Jerry!
Gerald was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Wanda Dial; parents, Charles and
Bertha Dial; siblings, Lois Neas, Delmar Richmond, and Val Dial; son-in-law, Chris Patterson; and
grandson, Ryan Patterson.
Survivors: Sister, Marilyn Wilkinson; son, Darrell Dial and wife, Carol; daughters, Terri Patterson of
Monument, Colo., and Robin Garmen and husband, Jeff of Collierville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Patrick, Jason, and Rusty Dial, Erin Staltare, Nicholas Patterson, Ashley Edmonds, Kyler and Shelby Garmen; and 11 great-grandchildren.
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