Warren Richard Aylsworth of Empire, died Oct 12, 2006, of natural causes at his sawmill, at the age of 86 years.
In 1938, Warren graduated from Empire High School. In Jul of 1940, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps.
Warren was married on Apr 2, 1946, to Aleta Hodge and celebrated 59th wedding anniversary this year.
During WWII, he led a flight of B-29 aircraft across the Pacific and landed the first B-29 ever, on Tinian Air Base. He flew 36 combat missions over Japan.
As an aircraft commander in the RB-47 in 1955, he won the P.T. Cullen award in SAC Reconnaissance and navigation competition. He flew over 300 reconnaissance missions from overseas locations. He was branch chief of the RB-47, chief of the SR71, U2 and Reconnaissance Drone Divisions. Warren served 34 years in the USAF through the World War II, Korean, and Vietnam Wars.
In 1966, Warren earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, majoring in political science.
Warren's grandfather, George Aylsworth, built the first sawmill in Empire in 1872. Upon retirement from the USAF, Warren returned to his roots and established his own saw mill, also located in Empire. Following the footsteps of his great grandfather 100 years earlier, he served as the president of the Village of Empire. Under his leadership, he was instrumental in starting the first library, the first township camp ground, and established the first museum.
Warren was the presiding Maple Grove Empire Cemetery president, a member of the Masonic Temple and the Traverse City Shrine, Empire United Methodist Church and was a founding member of the DOMC.
He is survived by his wife, Aleta M "Dete" (Hodge) Aylsworth; brother, Glenn (Jan) Aylsworth; sister, Helen (Vern) Scully; and his children, Barb (Erik) Foged, Wayne Aylsworth, Sue (Bob) Palmer, and Alonzo (Deborah) Aylsworth; nine grandchildren; 6.5 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, many relatives and friends.
Warren was preceded in death by his parents, Alonzo C. and Gladys P Aylsworth; and brothers, James, George and Wayne Aylsworth.
friends may call at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home today, Oct 15, 2006, from 2 to 4 pm. Masonic services will be held at 4pm, conducted by Empire Masonic Lodge, F and AM #597. Funeral services will be held Mon, Oct 16, at 11 am, at the Empire United Methodist Church. The Rev. Brenda Gordon will officiate. Graveside services will follow at Empire Maple Grove Cemetery, with full military honors under the auspices of the Wright-Patterson AFB.
Memorials may be made to the Empire United Methodist Church or The Traverse City Shrine Club.