1921
Col
2006
Col Welsey McKee
November 3, 1921 — August 1, 2006
COL. WESLEY I. MCKEE
Tupelo - COL. WESLEY I. MCKEE, 84, died Tuesday, August 1, 2006, at Avonlea Assisted Living after an extended illness. A Houston, Tex. native, he was born November 3, 1921 to the late Wesley and Loring Rawlinson McKee. He entered Aviation Cadets in January 1942 at Foster AFB, Texas, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon graduation in November 1942. During WWII he served as a fighter pilot in North Africa, Malta, Italy and Sicily, flying British Supermarine Spitfires with the 31st Fighter Group. He flew 115 missions, and among his decorations are the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. After the war he returned to Orlando AFB, Florida, and was assigned to Tactical Air Center, where he was a test and demonstration pilot. He started flying jets in 1946 and was assigned to Elgin AFB, Florida as a test pilot. After WWII, he served as a squadron commander in the 49th FG in Japan and as Chief of Maintenance of the 86th Fighter Group in Germany. He was a project officer for the development of the North American T-38 supersonic trainer still in use today. He earned his command pilot wings before retiring a Colonel in 1965. He was also the former owner of Truckmotive, Inc. in Waco, Tex. after retirement.
Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Tim Alexander officiating. Burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Kathleen Martin McKee of Tupelo; one daughter,Betty Page and husband, Ed, of Tupelo; two grandchilren, Sheri Hall and husband, John, of Saltillo and Jay Page and wife, Courtney, of Bartlett, Tenn.; one great-granddaughter, Sarah Page; one sister, Jean Leverett of Port Neches, Tex.; two nephews, Sam Beaumont, Jr., and wife, Beate, of Goldwaithe, Tex. and Harry Leverett and wife, Cyndy, of Graves, Tex.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Terry McKee.
Visitation will be 1 p.m. until service time Wednesday, August 2, 2006.
Tupelo - COL. WESLEY I. MCKEE, 84, died Tuesday, August 1, 2006, at Avonlea Assisted Living after an extended illness. A Houston, Tex. native, he was born November 3, 1921 to the late Wesley and Loring Rawlinson McKee. He entered Aviation Cadets in January 1942 at Foster AFB, Texas, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon graduation in November 1942. During WWII he served as a fighter pilot in North Africa, Malta, Italy and Sicily, flying British Supermarine Spitfires with the 31st Fighter Group. He flew 115 missions, and among his decorations are the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. After the war he returned to Orlando AFB, Florida, and was assigned to Tactical Air Center, where he was a test and demonstration pilot. He started flying jets in 1946 and was assigned to Elgin AFB, Florida as a test pilot. After WWII, he served as a squadron commander in the 49th FG in Japan and as Chief of Maintenance of the 86th Fighter Group in Germany. He was a project officer for the development of the North American T-38 supersonic trainer still in use today. He earned his command pilot wings before retiring a Colonel in 1965. He was also the former owner of Truckmotive, Inc. in Waco, Tex. after retirement.
Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Tim Alexander officiating. Burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Kathleen Martin McKee of Tupelo; one daughter,Betty Page and husband, Ed, of Tupelo; two grandchilren, Sheri Hall and husband, John, of Saltillo and Jay Page and wife, Courtney, of Bartlett, Tenn.; one great-granddaughter, Sarah Page; one sister, Jean Leverett of Port Neches, Tex.; two nephews, Sam Beaumont, Jr., and wife, Beate, of Goldwaithe, Tex. and Harry Leverett and wife, Cyndy, of Graves, Tex.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Terry McKee.
Visitation will be 1 p.m. until service time Wednesday, August 2, 2006.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Col Welsey McKee, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 1
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors