WILLIAM R. DEES
Aug. 31,1925-May 8, 2013
RALEIGH -- Lt. Colonel William R. Dees (Bill), aka Mr. Wonderful, 87, of Raleigh, N.C., passed on May 8, 2013, at Rex Hospital.
William was born August 31, 1925, in Fremont, N.C. to the late William R. Dees, Sr. and Carrie Boyd Dees.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth; son, Bob; and two sisters, Carrie LeVett and Josephine Peacock.
Bill attended North Carolina State University but left to enlist in the Army Aviation Air Cadet program during WW II. He was a career officer and pilot. Transitioning from the Army Air Force to the current day Air Force, Bill was a pilot with MATS (Military Air Transport) and SAC (Strategic Air Command). Bill flew medical air evacuation missions out of Tokyo during the Korean conflict. He later served in various capacities in the Air Force including logistics, intelligence and administration. Many of the years were served overseas.
Upon retiring to the Raleigh area, Bill was a gentleman's farmer. He was a long time member of Fairmont United Methodist Church in Raleigh.
He is survived by his daughters, Jane Vogel and husband, Charlie, of Tempe Ariz. and Barbara Mangold and husband, Dan, of Mooresville, N.C.; grandsons, Jonathon Vogel of Bloomington, Ill. and Michael Vogel and his wife, Maria; and a great granddaughter, Ella of Minneapolis, Minn.
The family would like to express tremendous appreciation to Home Instead of Raleigh for providing almost ten years of companionship and assistance to Bill. In particular, Louise Jones and the very dear ("Mimosa") Manomie Miller. The family also wishes to expresses their appreciation to ComForcare of Raleigh.
Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary's St., is handling the funeral arrangements.
A graveside service, with full military honors, will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to www.BrownWynne.com.
Good night, Mr. Wonderful! You were one of a kind.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on June 9, 2013 8:27 AM