William Z. Herman

Charlotte – Mr. Herman died peacefully Sunday afternoon, September 27, 2015. He was born June 6, 1918, near Kosice in what is now the Slovak Republic. He grew up speaking five languages and moved to America when he was twelve. During the Great Depression he learned English as well.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, doing photo reconnaissance while based in India, Burma, and what is now Bangladesh, often flying over the hump – the Himalayas. After the war he went to college and went on to became a mechanical engineer, designing turbines and power plants.

This past year he celebrated his 75th wedding anniversary with his wife Dorothee, who died this past spring. He has two children, Lew Herman and Rae Zweigbaum; four grandchildren; and so far, five great-grandchildren. Living 97 years spanned huge worldwide events, starting with the worldwide flu epidemic which killed his two brothers, the television era, the Cold War and on to the computer revolution.

Through it all he was a kind, good natured, loving and funny individual who wanted the best for everyone.

Graveside services with military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2015, at Salisbury National Cemetery in Salisbury, NC, with Rabbi Michael Shields officiating.