George Owen Gates was assigned to the 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron ‘Assam Dragons', 8th Tactical Fighter Wing ‘Wolf Pack' at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, flying the F-4D ‘Phantom II'.
The 25th TFS was responsible for laying down the sensors used by ‘Igloo White', Secretary of Defense McNamara's ‘electronic fence' some 200 plus miles long.
During his tour at Ubon George proudly served as a Wolf FAC.
BETHANY, Mo. — George Owen Gates, 71, Bethany, passed away Saturday, February 19, 2011, at the Harrison County Community Hospital.
He was born August 27, 1939, the son of Dan and Effie (Johnson) Gates.
On November 21, 1979, he married Barbara Ward. She survives at the home.
George graduated from the University of Missouri in 1961 and immediately went into the Air Force serving two terms in Vietnam as an F-4 Phantom fighter jet pilot and as an instructor for T-37 fighter planes. He retired from the Air National Guard based in Lincoln, Neb. on August 27, 1999, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Since 1974, George had been engaged in crop, hay, and cattle farming in Harrison and Daviess Counties along with his brother, Jim and grandson, J.D. He served as a board member for the University of Missouri – Thompson Farm Agricultural Experiment station. Anyone who was acquainted with George knew how much he loved farming and raising Black Angus cattle. George especially loved taking his grandkids and any visitors for a ride out through the pasture to check on the cows. He also enjoyed attending his grandkids school and sporting events.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors including his wife; children, Jeff (Susan) Ramey, Bethany; Kim (Thad) Currier, West Des Moines, Iowa; grandchildren, J.D. Ramey, Michael (Tommi) Orndorff, Jennifer (Jeremy) Glenn, Skylar, Brook, and Brandon Currier; great-grandchildren, Sean and Lyla Glenn; Brothers, Jim (Janice) Gates, Jamesport, Mo., Dick (Jean) Gates, Naples, FL; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 23, at the Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany. Friends may call anytime after 1 p.m. Tuesday where family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany.
Memorial contributions may be made to White Oak Cemetery and/or Pilot Grove #1 Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424.
The 25th TFS was responsible for laying down the sensors used by ‘Igloo White', Secretary of Defense McNamara's ‘electronic fence' some 200 plus miles long.
During his tour at Ubon George proudly served as a Wolf FAC.
BETHANY, Mo. — George Owen Gates, 71, Bethany, passed away Saturday, February 19, 2011, at the Harrison County Community Hospital.
He was born August 27, 1939, the son of Dan and Effie (Johnson) Gates.
On November 21, 1979, he married Barbara Ward. She survives at the home.
George graduated from the University of Missouri in 1961 and immediately went into the Air Force serving two terms in Vietnam as an F-4 Phantom fighter jet pilot and as an instructor for T-37 fighter planes. He retired from the Air National Guard based in Lincoln, Neb. on August 27, 1999, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Since 1974, George had been engaged in crop, hay, and cattle farming in Harrison and Daviess Counties along with his brother, Jim and grandson, J.D. He served as a board member for the University of Missouri – Thompson Farm Agricultural Experiment station. Anyone who was acquainted with George knew how much he loved farming and raising Black Angus cattle. George especially loved taking his grandkids and any visitors for a ride out through the pasture to check on the cows. He also enjoyed attending his grandkids school and sporting events.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors including his wife; children, Jeff (Susan) Ramey, Bethany; Kim (Thad) Currier, West Des Moines, Iowa; grandchildren, J.D. Ramey, Michael (Tommi) Orndorff, Jennifer (Jeremy) Glenn, Skylar, Brook, and Brandon Currier; great-grandchildren, Sean and Lyla Glenn; Brothers, Jim (Janice) Gates, Jamesport, Mo., Dick (Jean) Gates, Naples, FL; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 23, at the Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany. Friends may call anytime after 1 p.m. Tuesday where family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany.
Memorial contributions may be made to White Oak Cemetery and/or Pilot Grove #1 Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424.
George Owen Gates was assigned to the 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron ‘Assam Dragons', 8th Tactical Fighter Wing ‘Wolf Pack' at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, flying the F-4D ‘Phantom II'.
The 25th TFS was responsible for laying down the sensors used by ‘Igloo White', Secretary of Defense McNamara's ‘electronic fence' some 200 plus miles long.
During his tour at Ubon George proudly served as a Wolf FAC.
BETHANY, Mo. — George Owen Gates, 71, Bethany, passed away Saturday, February 19, 2011, at the Harrison County Community Hospital.
He was born August 27, 1939, the son of Dan and Effie (Johnson) Gates.
On November 21, 1979, he married Barbara Ward. She survives at the home.
George graduated from the University of Missouri in 1961 and immediately went into the Air Force serving two terms in Vietnam as an F-4 Phantom fighter jet pilot and as an instructor for T-37 fighter planes. He retired from the Air National Guard based in Lincoln, Neb. on August 27, 1999, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Since 1974, George had been engaged in crop, hay, and cattle farming in Harrison and Daviess Counties along with his brother, Jim and grandson, J.D. He served as a board member for the University of Missouri – Thompson Farm Agricultural Experiment station. Anyone who was acquainted with George knew how much he loved farming and raising Black Angus cattle. George especially loved taking his grandkids and any visitors for a ride out through the pasture to check on the cows. He also enjoyed attending his grandkids school and sporting events.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors including his wife; children, Jeff (Susan) Ramey, Bethany; Kim (Thad) Currier, West Des Moines, Iowa; grandchildren, J.D. Ramey, Michael (Tommi) Orndorff, Jennifer (Jeremy) Glenn, Skylar, Brook, and Brandon Currier; great-grandchildren, Sean and Lyla Glenn; Brothers, Jim (Janice) Gates, Jamesport, Mo., Dick (Jean) Gates, Naples, FL; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 23, at the Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany. Friends may call anytime after 1 p.m. Tuesday where family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany.
Memorial contributions may be made to White Oak Cemetery and/or Pilot Grove #1 Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424.
The 25th TFS was responsible for laying down the sensors used by ‘Igloo White', Secretary of Defense McNamara's ‘electronic fence' some 200 plus miles long.
During his tour at Ubon George proudly served as a Wolf FAC.
BETHANY, Mo. — George Owen Gates, 71, Bethany, passed away Saturday, February 19, 2011, at the Harrison County Community Hospital.
He was born August 27, 1939, the son of Dan and Effie (Johnson) Gates.
On November 21, 1979, he married Barbara Ward. She survives at the home.
George graduated from the University of Missouri in 1961 and immediately went into the Air Force serving two terms in Vietnam as an F-4 Phantom fighter jet pilot and as an instructor for T-37 fighter planes. He retired from the Air National Guard based in Lincoln, Neb. on August 27, 1999, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Since 1974, George had been engaged in crop, hay, and cattle farming in Harrison and Daviess Counties along with his brother, Jim and grandson, J.D. He served as a board member for the University of Missouri – Thompson Farm Agricultural Experiment station. Anyone who was acquainted with George knew how much he loved farming and raising Black Angus cattle. George especially loved taking his grandkids and any visitors for a ride out through the pasture to check on the cows. He also enjoyed attending his grandkids school and sporting events.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors including his wife; children, Jeff (Susan) Ramey, Bethany; Kim (Thad) Currier, West Des Moines, Iowa; grandchildren, J.D. Ramey, Michael (Tommi) Orndorff, Jennifer (Jeremy) Glenn, Skylar, Brook, and Brandon Currier; great-grandchildren, Sean and Lyla Glenn; Brothers, Jim (Janice) Gates, Jamesport, Mo., Dick (Jean) Gates, Naples, FL; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 23, at the Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany. Friends may call anytime after 1 p.m. Tuesday where family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany.
Memorial contributions may be made to White Oak Cemetery and/or Pilot Grove #1 Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424.
