Chester L. Eby
Former Kansan, Chester L. Eby (Colonel,
USAF, ret.) passed away recently in Tucson, Ariz.
He was born on Feb. 7, 1930, in Newton
to Hermas and Esther (Tangeman) Eby. After spending his early years
on the farm, Chet later moved with his family to Wichita, playing
baseball, football and basketball at Wichita North High School and
graduating in 1947.
He continued his education at Wichita
State University, where he played basketball and joined the Alpha
Gamma Gamma fraternity (later integrated into Beta Theta Pi). Chet
embarked on his Air Force career in 1951, piloting many different
planes during the years, including, most notably, the B-58 Hustler
and F-4 Phantom fighter jet.
During his two tours of duty in the
Vietnam War, he flew more than 460 combat missions (all with the
famed "Wolfpack" fighter wing), earning many commendations,
including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal
and Meritorious Service Medal. He also was honored to serve as the
task force commander for Operation Homecoming, which brought home our
POWs.
After 26 years, Chet retired from the
Air Force in 1978 and began his second career with Gates Learjet as a
marketing/test pilot. He worked for them in Tucson and Wichita, where
he flew numerous models of the Bombardier Learjets. He retired once
again, in 1998, as director of Flight Operations.
He returned to Tucson with his wife of
54 years, Alicia (Lee), and spent his time hunting, fishing, golfing
and enjoying the sports teams at the University of Arizona.
Besides his wife, Chet is survived by
his children, Lynn Coughlin, Mark (Julie) Eby and Sue (Richard)
Dreshfield; sisters, Arlene (Earl) Berner of Fort Collins, Colo., and
Alberta King of Hesston; and grandchildren, Sean (Crystal) and
Matthew Coughlin, Eric and Nels Eby, and David and Anne Dreshfield.
He was preceded in death by his parents
and his brothers, Charles and Olin Eby.
Interment with full military honors
will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in May.
