CHRIS CHRISTIAN
NICEVILLE, Fla. -- Retired United States Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Carlous L. "Chris" Christian died Dec. 14 at his home in Bluewater Bay. He was 80.
A native of Eustis, Fla., he was one of six children born to the late Lottie Clara Crews and Frank William Christian. As a young man, he served with the Civilian Conservation Corps and he enlised in the U.S. Army and joined the Calvary in 1942. When the Army Air Corps was established, he joined the newly formed unit at Seymour Johnson Field in Goldsboro, where he met and married Doris Ruth Rose. They celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on Nov. 27, 2003, just five days prior to her death.
The couple formerly lived in Sleepy Creek, Dudley, and danced with the Tar Heel Twirlers of Goldsboro.
Mr. Christian fought in the Burma Campaign and saw action with Merrill's Marauders. In 1963, he joined the reinstated Air Commando wing and served at England A.F.B., Alexandria, La., and Hurlburt Field, Fla. As a first sergeant, he participated in several tours in Vietnam and received his second Bronze Star. He retired from the Air Force in 1973.
He was a member of the Air Commando Association and was honored as a member of the ACA Hall of Fame. He attended the First United Methodist Church of Niceville, Fla.
His survivors include a son, U.S. Air Force retired Lt. Col. John Christian of Niceville, Fla.; two daughters, Ruth C. Atwood of Shreveport, La., and Omega Marie C. Dobard of Alexandria, La.; a sister, Elzora Combs of Greenacres, Fla., and seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
A funeral with full military honors will be held on Saturday, Jan. 8, at 1 p.m. at the Hurlburt Field Air Park, or if the weather is bad, in Hurlburt Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the McCoskrie Treshold Foundation, P.O. Box 67, Mary Esther, Fla., 32569-0067.
Little Chapel Funeral Home is serving the family.
Published in Obituaries on January 2, 2005 10:41 AM