Colonel (U.S. Air Force, Retired) John Gordon Yeager
Holman-Headland Mortuary & CremationsViewed: 1787
Posted by: Holman Mortuaries
holmanmortuaries.com
334-693-3371
Date: Sep 30 2021 10:06 AM
Colonel (U.S. Air Force, Retired) John Gordon Yeager, 80, died September 29, 2021, in Kinsey, Alabama. He was born December 14, 1940, to the late James Gordon Yeager and Virginia Wade Yeager in Sweetwater, Alabama, and, except for college and a 26-year USAF career, lived most of his life on the family land he loved in Houston County.
Graveside funeral services with military honors will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 2, 2021, at Headland Baptist Cemetery with Dr. Cecil M. Sanders, Jr. and the Reverend Mike Wehner officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements. Due to the prevalence of COVID-19, the current practices of social distancing and wearing masks will be observed.
A 1958 graduate of Headland High School, John earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Samford University in 1966. He paid his own way through school by managing a trucking company in Birmingham, Ala., and liked to say he crammed four years of college into eight. After being commissioned as an Air Force officer, John served his country in a wide spectrum of duties and posts, including instructor, organizational commander, director of personnel resource management, personnel programs officer, and education and training staff officer. Along the way he earned a master’s degree in psychology, guidance and counseling from the University of Northern Colorado in 1982, and was awarded several decorations, including the Legion of Merit, for outstanding performance and noteworthy accomplishments. A professional mentor to countless young officers and civilian employees, John was known for being intentional about gender and racial equality and made it a point to show appreciation for those serving, often delivering home-cooked meals to military on holiday duty.
John rose to the rank of Colonel, and his Air Force career culminated in his command of Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois. Upon retirement in 1992, the Yeagers moved back to their hometown. John managed the Fort Rucker Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP), assisting retiring military with reentry into a civilian workforce, and then directed the Fort Rucker Center of Wallace Community College. In 2003, he began a second career as an instructional systems specialist in quality assurance and faculty development at the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College.
John finally decided to retire at age 77, which gave him more daylight for time on his tractor, traversing the land, checking on his tree farm. A generous provider, John was a fan of an honest day’s work, power naps, exemplary customer service, and seat belts long before they were mandatory. A highly skilled public speaker, writer, editor, and teacher, John believed in the Oxford comma and delivering constructive criticism in green ink instead of red. He was always up for taking the scenic route and seeking out the world’s best pancakes.
Throughout his life, John looked for ways to serve others, always striving to exceed what was fair. Wherever he lived throughout the United States and overseas, he invested in his local church, most recently First Baptist Church of Headland. Over his lifetime, John served as deacon, Bible study leader, chairman of various committees, and Sunday School secretary. He also held leadership roles in numerous community organizations, including Kiwanis International and Toastmasters International.
John is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Starla West Yeager, a Kinsey resident and Headland native; they were married more than 59 years. He is also survived by his two children, Melanie Glynn Yeager of Tallahassee, Fla., and Eric John Yeager of Normal, Ill.; his brother, Jack Wade Yeager (Lorrie) of Greenville, S.C.; his brother-in-law, Major General (USAF, Retired) Walter Thomas West (Susan) of Houston, Texas; and his sister-in-law Patsy Yeager of Prattville, Ala.; nieces Suzanne Achgill (Bob), College Station, Texas; and Robin West McGlohn (Judd) of Houston, Texas; nephews Steve Yeager (Paula) of Huntsville, Ala.; Brian West (Michelle) of Alexander City, Ala.; John David Yeager of Spartanburg, S.C; and other beloved family.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother, Mona Yeager; his brothers, James Monroe Yeager (Patsy) of Huntsville, Ala., and Joe Earl Yeager of Kinsey, Ala.; and nieces Shannon West Redwine of Las Vegas, Nev., and Michelle Yeager Eldridge of Easley, S.C.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries via the website, alabamachild.org, or by mail, Attn: Ministry Development, 2681 Rocky Ridge Lane, Birmingham, AL 35216.
HOLMAN-HEADLAND MORTUARY IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-693-3371. You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com. This establishment does not own a crematory.
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