Published: January 29, 2012 8:00AM

Joseph W. Symonds, 95, Defiance, Ohio, died Friday, January 27, 2012, at Defiance Area In-Patient Hospice Center.

He was born October 17, 1916, in Paulding County, the son of Elza and Marie (Sitterly) Symonds. He married Marguerite H. (Head) Symonds on January 15, 1939, and she died on January 5, 2005. He was a pilot in the South Pacific with the 500 Bomb Squadron of the 345th Bombardment Wing in World War II. He retired in 1985 from The Fashion Shop, where was a manager for 22 years. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, and life member of Defiance VFW 3360 and American Legion. He loved fishing and attending Defiance High School sporting events.

Surviving are his daughter, Susan (Dennis) O'Neill, of Toledo, Ohio; a son, Joel (Brenda) Symonds, of Marathon Keys, Florida; granddaughters, Erin Higgs and Julie Timothy; three great-grandchildren, Ryan, Hailey and Alyssa Timothy; and a sister, Sally Symonds, of Santa Maria, California.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife; his stepmother, Gladys Symonds; and a sister, Kathryn Hill.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 31, 2012, at St. John Lutheran Church, Defiance, with Rev. Donald L. Luhring officiating. Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday at Hanenkrath-Clevenger-Schaffer Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be in Riverview Memory Gardens, rural Defiance, with graveside service by Defiance VFW Post 3360.

Memorials are to the Defiance Area In-Patient Hospice Center or the St. John Lutheran School.

Condolences and sympathy cards may be sent to:

The O'Neill family
3269 Wendover
Toledo OH 43606

*Dates and locations subject to change. Check our schedule online for most up-to-date information. Click on the location for a map and tour times.

Harlan,
I found him and talked to him.  William C. Zimmerman didn't know anything
about the 500th BS.  He thought he had finished his missions in early 1944,
but wasn't sure on the dates.  I mentioned many pilots I knew but, Horton
Stewart was the only one which rang a bell.  He also thought he remembered
Cliff Hanna. He said Mortensen was the CO.  I told him about the reunion
upcoming in Columbia but he said that his traveling days were over.  He did
want a copy of the "Strafer".  I didn't know if you could send him one, if
not I'll send a copy. Please let me know.    

William C. Zimmerman
90 Oneida Rd
Camp Hill, PA 17011
717-761-2486

On behalf of the William Hecox family…I want to express my Thanks for the remembrance of Ruth A. Hecox. The flowers were spectacular and meant a lot to the family of Ruth Hecox. Bill and Ruth celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary, January 6, 2011 and were together until Ruth’s passing. They felt a very special bond to the “Rough Raiders” and were life time members. Dory Scudder sent a personal note to my Father-in-Law (Bill Hecox)and she and Bob were very special along with the Bill Cavoli, Herman  Reheis, Bob Bynam, and too many others to mention.  Thank you for the special remembrance and God’s Blessings to you and the other members.

Regards,

Jerry and Lynne Solt
P.O. Box # 57
222 east Columbus Street
Lithopolis, Ohio 43136-0057
Jerry_solt@sbcglobal.net

I’m saddened to report the passing on July 10 of my father-in-law,  Alfred F. (Wally) Waldheim, at age 93.  Wally was a very proud Life Member of the 500th Bomb Squadron Association, and was always delighted to attend the reunions until his health began to fail.  In his final months, he got great comfort telling the stories of his time in combat as a radio gunner aboard B-25s.  Wally kept by his bedside a copy of Lawrence Hickey’s book, Warpath Across the Pacific, in which he was pictured with his crewmates of the bomber “Wattum-Choo”.

Raymond Grasso
77 Bartlett Hollow Road
Middletown, CT 06457

It is with deep saddness that I write you of the passing of Ruth Hecox. She passed away July 22rd at The Pickering House......a hospice respite home. She leaves her beloved husband Bill Hecox of 65-years of marriage. Children Thane Custer (Wilma) Hecox, Diane (Dr. James M.) Hermann, and Lynne (Jerry) Solt. I will attach a link for her obituary. God Bless.

Jerry A. Solt
Son-in-Law
614-325-8071 cell
 

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dispatch/obituary.aspx?n=ruth-allene-armstrong-hecox&pid=152758027

Don Wagner received a call from Jim O'Mara (O'Mera)?, pilot, 499th, calling for Mrs Anna Luciano, to notify us that her husband  Peter (500th) passed on July 21, 2011.  The cause was not given, but O'Mara said that Peter had been having some lung problems and suffered from dementia. I'm assuming burial has already transpired.  Condolences may be sent to the Luciano family at:

Luciano Family
190 Stone Street
Maywood, NJ 07607

and can reach the home on 201-845-6488.

The first is I just received a message from Van McMahn that her husband  Walter McMahn  passed away on 31 May 2011.

Condolences may be sent to to:
Van McMahn
4505 S. Yosemite St.  #430
Denver  CO  80237-2539
email  walt-van@webtv.net

This was just received from Harold DeWeil Jr's son.
Harlan
 

It is with sadness that I wish to inform you of the death of my father Harold DeWeil Jr.  He was a retired Air Force Lt. Col who I believe served in the 345 Bomb Group during WWII.  He passed on May 14 2011 at the age of 91.
Thanks to all of you who served so well.

Condolences may be sent to:
DeWeil Family
453 Bostwick Circle
Vidalia  GA  30474-9542

 Sincerly
 H. Steve DeWeil  -  Son

This information comes by way of Don "Buzz" Wagner.

"CHARLES K DUSENBERRY, A PROUD MEMBER OF THE ROUGH RAIDERS, 500TH SQUADRON, PASSED AWAY ON JAN 23, 2011.
CHARLES SUFFERED FROM MACULAR DEGENERATION & WAS BLIND.  I READ THE NEWSLETTER TO HIM & HE ALWAYS ENJOYED IT.
THANKS FOR REMEMBERING.

Condolences may be sent to:

MS BARBARA DUSENBERRY
20425 CANYON SPRINGS LN
WHITEWOOD, SD, 57793

This was received from Marith Reheis today.
Harlan

My dad passed on to the wild blue yonder yesterday, April 29, about 6 PM.  My family from Denver was not here--they had come at Christmas, but could not leave their jobs again.  But everyone else--Harold and I, two grand-kids and their wives, and two great-grand-kids--were here for the last several days, keeping company in his hospice room and telling all the old outrageous stories again.  I am sure Dad was laughing and smiling inside though it must have griped him not to be able to join in.

For the record, he went into the hospital about 17 days ago with an ulcer that had apparently been bleeding badly for some time, unbeknownst to us or the assisted-living folks, until he'd lost a lot of blood and collapsed.  The doctors stopped it eventually but he continued to decline, probably because his one remaining kidney could not handle the load and his nutrition status was poor, and went into hospice care last Monday.

For the friends here in Georgia, there will be a memorial service at the Presbyterian Church in Monticello, GA, on this Monday May 2nd at 11AM. 246 E Washington St, Monticello, GA, 31064.  Sometime this summer, the family will gather at our home west of Denver to have another remembrance and to put Mom and Dad's ashes with a stone at our family plot.  We will think about throwing that open to 500th friends.  (Of course all are welcome this coming Monday as well if they are within range).

Harold and I will write an obituary after we get the service and eulogy together.

He's gone on to the next adventure now so none should be too sad.

Marith

Condolences may be sent to:
Marith Reheis
3955 Douglas Mountain Drive
Golden CO  80403
phone:  303-277-1843

This was received from Don "Buzz" Wagner.

I received a telephone call from Barbara Holm informing me that her husband Albert W "Bud" Holm had passed on on Tuesday, April 19, 2011.  "Bud" was my co-pilot having joined the crew at the CCTC, Greenville, SC.  We flew a new B-25 from Fairfield Suison (now Travis AFB) CA to New Guinea.  Mrs Holm is sending his obituary to me by mail since their computer is out of commission.  I will copy and email it to you when received.

"Bud" was a great guy.....loved to play poker (and was good at it).  He contracted malaria and spent the last 3 months of the war in the hospital.  It affected his memory, and it wasn't until I wrote him a 15 page letter filling in the blanks that he knew what happened during the memory loss period.  He returned to civilian life after the war and ended-up (big time) in the logging business in northern Minnesota..

He was ill for several years before his death and wore breathing apparatus for a long time, restricting his travel capability and the reason he didn't attend our reunions.  Mrs Holm said that he waited eagerly for our newsletters which he enjoyed.

Thanks...........Don

Condolences may be sent to:

Barbara Holm
9425 Ashawa Road
Cook  MN  55723
 

I received this message that one of our members having passed away.  Condolences may be sent to:

Virginia Baker
18740 SW 86th Ave
Miami  FL  33157-7220

I regret to inform you that William Baker passed away on March 16, 2011.  “Bill” was my grandfather and he will be sorely missed.  I would listen to his stories that he infrequently told about his time in the Pacific.  My first born child arrived on March 7th  was named William after his grandfather.  He came 10 days early making his due date one day after my grandfather passed away.

Kind regards,
Stephen Hinson

Bill Baker's obit:

William Alvenza Baker, Jr. passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 16, at South Miami Hospital surrounded by his devoted family members.  Born on August 13, 1924, in Martinsville, Indiana, to Bonnie Bastin Baker and William A. Baker, Sr. he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and fought in World War II in the Pacific where his plane was shot down.  His injuries earned him a Purple Heart.  Later, he fought in the Korean Conflict earning more medals.  After 25 years serving in the Air Force, he retired in South Florida opening his own business, Baker T.V. which he and his wife, Virginia, operated for another 25 years in Naranja, Florida.  He is predeceased by his daughter, Annette Yallelus, and his son-in-law, Petter Gram.  He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Virginia Coker Baker, his two other daughters, Maria B. Minton, and Cherri B. Gram, his son-in-law Jeffrey Yallelus, grandchildren,  Roger Davis, III, William Davis (Laura), Stephen Hinson (Rebekah), and Kristen Yallelus, four great-grandchildren, Austin Davis, Colton Davis, Brooke Davis, and William Hinson.  A service will be held at 2:00 on Wednesday, March 23, at Silver Palm United Methodist Church, 15855 SW 248 St. Princeton, FL.  He will be laid to rest beside his daughter, Annette, at Palms Woodlawn Cemetery, 27100 Old Dixie Highway, Naranja, FL, directly following the service.  The family respectfully requests that any donations in William’s honor be made to the United Methodist Children’s Home, 51 Children’s Way, Enterprise, FL 32725.

This is just in from Dory,

Thanks Harlan, don't know whether you got all the details or not - the service is with full military honors at the National Cemetery in Riverside, California at 11:30 am on Thursday, the 24th of March, followed by a reception at the March Field Air Museum on base. In July we will have all of the family for a Celebration of Life at Air Force Village West, where we live - sometime in July -  and thanks so much for the beautiful bouquet, that gesture really means a lot to me,''

Love,     Dory

Bob Scudder's obit:

Robert Scudder (1918 - 2011)

LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT K. SCUDDER Colonel Robert Kelso Scudder, USAF Retired, died March 11, 2011 at Air Force Village West in Riverside, CA at the age of 92. He was born in Salt Lake City, UT on September 29, 1918. Early in his career he worked as a graphic artist for ZCMI Department Store in Salt Lake before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942. As a pilot he served with the 500th Bomb Squadron in New Guinea during WWII. He flew C-54\'s for the Berlin Airlift. After the war he was assigned to the North American Production Company as a test pilot for the F-86. During his 28 year career he piloted numerous aircraft. Col. Scudder served as a Maintenance Officer for SAC and worked in the Minuteman Missile Program. During the Vietnam War flew Caribou\'s. Colonel Scudder was a named, life member of the Order of Daedalians, the Retired Officers Association, and Military, 98th bomb Group Veterans Association, F-86 Sabre Pilots Association, life member of MOAA, and a past member of the Lions Club. Colonel Scudder was the recipient of numerous military medals, including the Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, and the Bronze Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters. Along with a witty sense of humor, Colonel Scudder had many hobbies and interests. He was an accomplished artist, author, loved animals, and an active member in the Humane Society of the US and the Boy Scouts of America. Was an avid stamp collector, a concerned environmentalist and member of the Sierra Club. he loved snow skiing, golfing and enjoyed working on automobiles for most of his life. Colonel Scudder is survived by his wife, Doris (Dory) Scudder; two sons, Steve and wife Sharon, Bill and wife Debby; a daughter, Barbara R. Scudder; a nephew, James Barrow (Colonel USAF Retired) and niece, Debbie Hartman. He had five grandchildren, Tisha, Emilee, Randy, Paul and Danielle Scudder; five great-grandchildren, Molly and Max Scudder, Caroline and Reed Whatcott and Kelty Kulin. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, William A. and Edith K. Scudder and his first wife, Edith Williams Scudder, daughter of Paul L. Williams, Major General, USAF. Family and friends may gather at 11:30am for a full military honors burial on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA. A reception will follow at March Field Air Museum. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Humane Society or your favorite charity in his honor. A family celebration of his life will be held at Air Force Village West in July.
Published in Press-Enterprise on March 18, 2011
 

I must inform you that I received a notice from Dorothy Grasso, that her husband Victor A. Grasso passed away on February 11th 2011.

Condolences may be sent to:

Dorothy Grasso
689 W  Main Street
Freehold  NJ  07728-2582

With sadness we must report the death of two of our original members.

On March 9th Stan Muniz sucumbed to a long illness.

Condolences may be sent to:

Arthur F. Muniz
17690 Vista Ave
Monte Serento  CA 95030
email  artco00@comcast.net

Terry Curtis
P.O. Box 5611
Chico  CA  92927
email  tcurtis@csuchico.edu

Then on March 11th Robert Scudder passed away.

Condolences may be sent to:

Family of Robert K. Scudder
21313 Westover Ave.
Riverside  CA  92518-2922

Stephen Scudder (son) email ssscudder@att.net
Doris Scudder's emaildnbscud@gmail.com