Father: Jose E Elfalan
Mother: Sallie M Simpson
Spouse: Bertha Murray
Jose Rizal Elfalan missed out on combat in World War II, even though he was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces. But he was certified as a B-25 bomber pilot, an accomplishment uncommon for blacks during that war.
The war ended just two weeks before Mr. Elfalan was to be sent to the Pacific Theater for duty.
But his training became the seed that gave rise to his long career in aeronautical engineering and his lasting association with the famed Tuskegee Airmen.
Mr. Elfalan, one of the first African-American engineers hired by Boeing to work here, died last Wednesday (July 9) after suffering a heart attack at his family's Leschi-area home. His death came two weeks after his 71st birthday and less than a week before he and his wife, Bertha, had hoped to celebrate 47 years of marriage.
At Boeing, Mr. Elfalan distinguished himself as a designer, stress analyst and standards engineer. He had a hand in the aerospace giant's fighter- and commercial-aircraft programs, and in missile, lunar orbiter, spacecraft and hydrofoil projects before his retirement as an engineering manager in 1989.
He might have become a commercial airline pilot had he not encountered discrimination, said his son, Derrick Elfalan of Honolulu.
He obtained his commercial civilian-pilot's license after the war, his son said. "But his attempts to be a commercial pilot were in vain because of the bigotry of that time period. He was unable to get a job."
Mr. Elfalan was born in the small town of Beatrice in southern Alabama but spent most of his youth in Louisville, Ky. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces soon after graduation from Louisville's Central Colored High School in 1943, according to his son.
Mr. Elfalan received his flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Forces Base in Tuskegee, Ala., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
After completing his military service, he returned to Louisville, where he attended Louisville Municipal College for one year, then enrolled in the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he received a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1950.
It was in Colorado that he met and married Bertha, a college classmate. That same year, he was recruited by Boeing to work in Seattle.
"Being an engineer, he was very organized and very punctual," said his son, also an engineer. "He was very much a take-charge kind of guy."
Three years ago, he was lauded for his 39-year Boeing career and honored as a Black Pioneer in Engineering by the Black Heritage Society of Washington State.
He was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, who honored him last year, and was active in the organization's local Sam Bruce Chapter, which he headed for two years in the late 1980s.
"He loved camping and fishing, and the outdoors," his son said.
"He also enjoyed gourmet cooking. That was a passion of his."
For 47 years, he had been an active parishioner at St. Therese Catholic Church, 3416 E. Marion St., where a wake is set for 7 tonight, and a memorial service at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Besides his wife and his oldest son, Mr. Elfalan also is survived by a daughter, Karen Elfalan of San Diego, and two other sons, David of Seattle, and Donald of Issaquah. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, and a sister, Maria Calloway of Louisville.
The family suggests that remembrances may be made to the Tuskegee Airmen National Scholarship Fund, in care of Perry S. Thomas, 417 33rd Ave., Seattle, 98122.
Military Information: 2ND LT, US ARMY AIR CORPS
Mother: Sallie M Simpson
Spouse: Bertha Murray
Jose Rizal Elfalan missed out on combat in World War II, even though he was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces. But he was certified as a B-25 bomber pilot, an accomplishment uncommon for blacks during that war.
The war ended just two weeks before Mr. Elfalan was to be sent to the Pacific Theater for duty.
But his training became the seed that gave rise to his long career in aeronautical engineering and his lasting association with the famed Tuskegee Airmen.
Mr. Elfalan, one of the first African-American engineers hired by Boeing to work here, died last Wednesday (July 9) after suffering a heart attack at his family's Leschi-area home. His death came two weeks after his 71st birthday and less than a week before he and his wife, Bertha, had hoped to celebrate 47 years of marriage.
At Boeing, Mr. Elfalan distinguished himself as a designer, stress analyst and standards engineer. He had a hand in the aerospace giant's fighter- and commercial-aircraft programs, and in missile, lunar orbiter, spacecraft and hydrofoil projects before his retirement as an engineering manager in 1989.
He might have become a commercial airline pilot had he not encountered discrimination, said his son, Derrick Elfalan of Honolulu.
He obtained his commercial civilian-pilot's license after the war, his son said. "But his attempts to be a commercial pilot were in vain because of the bigotry of that time period. He was unable to get a job."
Mr. Elfalan was born in the small town of Beatrice in southern Alabama but spent most of his youth in Louisville, Ky. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces soon after graduation from Louisville's Central Colored High School in 1943, according to his son.
Mr. Elfalan received his flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Forces Base in Tuskegee, Ala., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
After completing his military service, he returned to Louisville, where he attended Louisville Municipal College for one year, then enrolled in the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he received a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1950.
It was in Colorado that he met and married Bertha, a college classmate. That same year, he was recruited by Boeing to work in Seattle.
"Being an engineer, he was very organized and very punctual," said his son, also an engineer. "He was very much a take-charge kind of guy."
Three years ago, he was lauded for his 39-year Boeing career and honored as a Black Pioneer in Engineering by the Black Heritage Society of Washington State.
He was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, who honored him last year, and was active in the organization's local Sam Bruce Chapter, which he headed for two years in the late 1980s.
"He loved camping and fishing, and the outdoors," his son said.
"He also enjoyed gourmet cooking. That was a passion of his."
For 47 years, he had been an active parishioner at St. Therese Catholic Church, 3416 E. Marion St., where a wake is set for 7 tonight, and a memorial service at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Besides his wife and his oldest son, Mr. Elfalan also is survived by a daughter, Karen Elfalan of San Diego, and two other sons, David of Seattle, and Donald of Issaquah. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, and a sister, Maria Calloway of Louisville.
The family suggests that remembrances may be made to the Tuskegee Airmen National Scholarship Fund, in care of Perry S. Thomas, 417 33rd Ave., Seattle, 98122.
Military Information: 2ND LT, US ARMY AIR CORPS
Father: Jose E Elfalan
Mother: Sallie M Simpson
Spouse: Bertha Murray
Jose Rizal Elfalan missed out on combat in World War II, even though he was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces. But he was certified as a B-25 bomber pilot, an accomplishment uncommon for blacks during that war.
The war ended just two weeks before Mr. Elfalan was to be sent to the Pacific Theater for duty.
But his training became the seed that gave rise to his long career in aeronautical engineering and his lasting association with the famed Tuskegee Airmen.
Mr. Elfalan, one of the first African-American engineers hired by Boeing to work here, died last Wednesday (July 9) after suffering a heart attack at his family's Leschi-area home. His death came two weeks after his 71st birthday and less than a week before he and his wife, Bertha, had hoped to celebrate 47 years of marriage.
At Boeing, Mr. Elfalan distinguished himself as a designer, stress analyst and standards engineer. He had a hand in the aerospace giant's fighter- and commercial-aircraft programs, and in missile, lunar orbiter, spacecraft and hydrofoil projects before his retirement as an engineering manager in 1989.
He might have become a commercial airline pilot had he not encountered discrimination, said his son, Derrick Elfalan of Honolulu.
He obtained his commercial civilian-pilot's license after the war, his son said. "But his attempts to be a commercial pilot were in vain because of the bigotry of that time period. He was unable to get a job."
Mr. Elfalan was born in the small town of Beatrice in southern Alabama but spent most of his youth in Louisville, Ky. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces soon after graduation from Louisville's Central Colored High School in 1943, according to his son.
Mr. Elfalan received his flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Forces Base in Tuskegee, Ala., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
After completing his military service, he returned to Louisville, where he attended Louisville Municipal College for one year, then enrolled in the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he received a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1950.
It was in Colorado that he met and married Bertha, a college classmate. That same year, he was recruited by Boeing to work in Seattle.
"Being an engineer, he was very organized and very punctual," said his son, also an engineer. "He was very much a take-charge kind of guy."
Three years ago, he was lauded for his 39-year Boeing career and honored as a Black Pioneer in Engineering by the Black Heritage Society of Washington State.
He was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, who honored him last year, and was active in the organization's local Sam Bruce Chapter, which he headed for two years in the late 1980s.
"He loved camping and fishing, and the outdoors," his son said.
"He also enjoyed gourmet cooking. That was a passion of his."
For 47 years, he had been an active parishioner at St. Therese Catholic Church, 3416 E. Marion St., where a wake is set for 7 tonight, and a memorial service at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Besides his wife and his oldest son, Mr. Elfalan also is survived by a daughter, Karen Elfalan of San Diego, and two other sons, David of Seattle, and Donald of Issaquah. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, and a sister, Maria Calloway of Louisville.
The family suggests that remembrances may be made to the Tuskegee Airmen National Scholarship Fund, in care of Perry S. Thomas, 417 33rd Ave., Seattle, 98122.
Military Information: 2ND LT, US ARMY AIR CORPS
Mother: Sallie M Simpson
Spouse: Bertha Murray
Jose Rizal Elfalan missed out on combat in World War II, even though he was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces. But he was certified as a B-25 bomber pilot, an accomplishment uncommon for blacks during that war.
The war ended just two weeks before Mr. Elfalan was to be sent to the Pacific Theater for duty.
But his training became the seed that gave rise to his long career in aeronautical engineering and his lasting association with the famed Tuskegee Airmen.
Mr. Elfalan, one of the first African-American engineers hired by Boeing to work here, died last Wednesday (July 9) after suffering a heart attack at his family's Leschi-area home. His death came two weeks after his 71st birthday and less than a week before he and his wife, Bertha, had hoped to celebrate 47 years of marriage.
At Boeing, Mr. Elfalan distinguished himself as a designer, stress analyst and standards engineer. He had a hand in the aerospace giant's fighter- and commercial-aircraft programs, and in missile, lunar orbiter, spacecraft and hydrofoil projects before his retirement as an engineering manager in 1989.
He might have become a commercial airline pilot had he not encountered discrimination, said his son, Derrick Elfalan of Honolulu.
He obtained his commercial civilian-pilot's license after the war, his son said. "But his attempts to be a commercial pilot were in vain because of the bigotry of that time period. He was unable to get a job."
Mr. Elfalan was born in the small town of Beatrice in southern Alabama but spent most of his youth in Louisville, Ky. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces soon after graduation from Louisville's Central Colored High School in 1943, according to his son.
Mr. Elfalan received his flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Forces Base in Tuskegee, Ala., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
After completing his military service, he returned to Louisville, where he attended Louisville Municipal College for one year, then enrolled in the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he received a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1950.
It was in Colorado that he met and married Bertha, a college classmate. That same year, he was recruited by Boeing to work in Seattle.
"Being an engineer, he was very organized and very punctual," said his son, also an engineer. "He was very much a take-charge kind of guy."
Three years ago, he was lauded for his 39-year Boeing career and honored as a Black Pioneer in Engineering by the Black Heritage Society of Washington State.
He was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, who honored him last year, and was active in the organization's local Sam Bruce Chapter, which he headed for two years in the late 1980s.
"He loved camping and fishing, and the outdoors," his son said.
"He also enjoyed gourmet cooking. That was a passion of his."
For 47 years, he had been an active parishioner at St. Therese Catholic Church, 3416 E. Marion St., where a wake is set for 7 tonight, and a memorial service at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Besides his wife and his oldest son, Mr. Elfalan also is survived by a daughter, Karen Elfalan of San Diego, and two other sons, David of Seattle, and Donald of Issaquah. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, and a sister, Maria Calloway of Louisville.
The family suggests that remembrances may be made to the Tuskegee Airmen National Scholarship Fund, in care of Perry S. Thomas, 417 33rd Ave., Seattle, 98122.
Military Information: 2ND LT, US ARMY AIR CORPS
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