Harold Raymond "Whitey" Bintliff, 89, slipped peacefully and comfortably from this earth Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, and into the arms of his Lord and Savior. Another member of The Greatest Generation has left us. His brief illness did not keep him from enjoying the company of family in his last hours, including powerful and heartfelt prayer together. Cryptside service: 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in Greenwood Mausoleum. Harold was born Sept. 12, 1925, in Fort Worth to Bethel William Bintliff Sr. and Alma Brown Bintliff. He was a descendent of America's explorers and pilgrims, including the earliest physician on Manhattan. His great-grandfather, Bethel Coopwood, was a historic figure in the Mexican-American War, the establishment of San Bernardino, Calif., the Civil War, and was one of the first judges in Austin. Harold grew up on Eagle Mountain Lake, where his father served for decades as the first superintendent of that lake. He left Azle High School early in his senior year to join the Army Air Force during World War II and fight for the country that he loved. There, as a flight engineer, he learned to fly and fix aircraft, a passion that he would pursue the rest of his working life. His assignments during the war took him to the European, Asian and Pacific theaters, where he served as a member of flight crews shuttling men and material to the fronts. After the war, he returned to Eagle Mountain Lake and began a career with DFW area aerospace manufacturers, including General Dynamics, North American Aircraft and Chance Vought Aircraft. That led to other aviation assignments across the southwest. In 1965 he moved his family to Hurst and joined Bell Helicopter, where he was a planner and engineering/manufacturing liaison until his retirement in 1986. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hurst and active at the Hurst Senior Center. He was preceded in death by his parents; as well as by his brother, B.W. Bintliff Jr.; and sisters, Lorraine Dowell and Fern Williams. Survivors: Son, Bob Bintliff and wife, Victoria Printz, of Midland; grandsons, John Bintliff and wife, Hillary, of Fort Worth, and Dan Bintliff of Dallas; son, Tom Bintliff of Arlington; numerous nephews, nieces and their descendents, dozens of whom gathered locally in September for Harold's 89th birthday. That wonderful celebration of the Bintliff family history and of Harold Bintliff's life, which he thoroughly enjoyed, will serve as his primary memorial, as was his wish.
Published in Star-Telegram on Jan. 18, 2015