Retired Lt. Col Richard Gene Twyman

Retired Lt. Col. Richard Gene Twyman, age 86, of Grants Pass, died, Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at Highland House Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Grants Pass, Oregon.

A graveside service will be at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 15, 2009 at Eagle Point National Cemetery. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to the American Heart Association, 1200 NW Naito Parkway Suite 220, Portland, Oregon 97209 www.donate.americanheart.org or Alzheimer’s Association, 1311 NW 21st Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97209 at www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp.

Please visit the family guest book at www.since1928hull.com.

The youngest of seven children, he was born May 19, 1922 in San Luis Obispo, California to Harvey H. & Alma Wright Twyman. In 1940 he graduated from Central Point High School in Oregon, and then attended Salinas Junior College in California before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1942. During his 23-year career as an Air Force pilot, he flew fighters and bombers.

After completion of Aviation Cadet Training, he received his commission on April 15, 1945 and served on continuous active duty until 1965. He completed navigator training in December 1957 and was granted an aeronautical rating of navigator in addition to his pilot rating. On April 20, 1960 he was designated a Command Pilot. Her served in Strategic Air Command for eight years and flew B-47 and B-52 Bombers and became Base Commander at Adair Air Station prior to retiring in 1965.

He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Association. He loved coaching baseball and was an avid hunter and fisherman.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Aileen Twyman of Grants Pass; four children, Lynda Paffrath of San Mateo, California, Deborah Boyd of Los Angeles, California, Dick Twyman Jr of Portland, Oregon, and Pete Twyman of Honolulu, Hawaii; two sisters, Merle Wilkinson of Watsonville, California and Erlene Flores of Salinas, California; and five grandchildren.