WELBES, Alvin M., Lt. Col. 1924-2010
WELBES, DELAGARDELLE, GREEN, DOYLE, FROST, FADAL, STANFORD, COLE
Posted By: Kathy Kurth Holtry
Date: 5/11/2010 at 07:11:49
Lt. Col. Alvin M. Welbes, USAF (Ret.) (1924-2010)
Waterloo Courier Monday, May 10, 2010
Lt. Col. Alvin M. Welbes, USAF (Ret.), age 85, of Austin, Texas, passed away Thursday, April 29, 2010. He was born on June 13, 1924, in Waterloo, to John Peter and Leona Delagardelle Welbes.
Col. Welbes received his Pilot Wings in the U.S. Army Air Force in San Antonio in 1943 and shipped out to the European theater as part of the 57th Fighter Group, 65th Fighter Squadron, where he flew P-40s and P-47s in North Africa and Italy, spending the majority of his time in Corsica. As part of the war effort, Hollywood made a major documentary film about the men and mission of the 65th FS, titled "Thunderbolt," in which then Capt. Welbes makes several appearances. He also flew several combat tours in Korea and Vietnam. He retired from the USAF after 30 years of service.
Medals and awards earned while serving in the USAAF and USAF include Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal w/15 OLC, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal w/1 OLC, National Defense Service Medal w/1 Bronze Service Star, Air Force Longevity Service Award w/1 Silver and 1 Bronze OLC, WW II Victory Medal, European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/1 BSS, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and Presidential Unit Citation (20th TASS).
He was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church (1970-2010). He attended Iowa State Teachers College (University of Northern Iowa) and the University of Iowa before joining the Army in World War II and received his BA from the University of Texas in 1957, when the military sent all its veterans back to finish their schooling, which was interrupted by World War II and Korea.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Mary Evelyn "Stacy" Green Welbes; one sister, Sister Mary Jonann (Calista) Welbes BVM of Waterloo; one brother, Donald P. Welbes of Minneapolis; brothers-in-law, Joseph Doyle and Raphael Frost, both of Waterloo, Marvin Edward Green and Robert Arthur Green, both of Las Vegas, and Fredrick Erin Green of Los Angeles.
Al is survived by his daughter, Kim and her husband, Mike; his son, Mike and his wife, Susan and their children, Sarah and Rachel; his sisters, Marcella Welbes Doyle and Anita Welbes Frost, and brother Jack and his wife Patricia Welbes, all of Waterloo; sister-in-law, Arlene Welbes of Minneapolis; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Steve Frost of Waterloo, who followed his footsteps into the Air Force.
Other survivors include lifelong friends, Dr. Richard and Margaret Fadal of Waco, Texas; Dr. William and Marlene Stanford of Iowa City and Alan and Merry Cole of Corrales of New Mexico.
Al will lie in state at Cook-Walden Funeral Home beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 9. Rosary services will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 9, at the funeral home. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 10, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Austin, with Father Matt Iwuji officiating, followed by interment at 2 p.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio.
The family would like to especially thank the wonderful caregivers at Buckner Villas, where Al spent several months recently in rehabilitation.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America or the Sisters of Charity BVM of Dubuque.
Memorials and guestbook online at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com .
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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