Jerry Pool Bateman

JERRY POOL BATEMAN. Retired Air Force Major Jerry Pool Bateman of Dayton, OH, passed away on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at the age of 76 from complications following a stroke. He was born in Dallas, TX, on June 11, 1940, to Walker H. and Cora B. (Pool) Bateman and spent much of his youth in Plainview, TX. There he met and married his former wife, Paula (Graham) Hiett, with whom he had two daughters. Jerry graduated with a bachelor degree in bacteriology from Texas Tech University. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1962. His 20-year Air Force career took him from Red Bluff, CA, to a remote tour in Keflavik, Iceland, where he logged more than 1500 airborne intercepts with the F-102 aircraft, many of which were against Russian aircraft. He then went back to Los Angeles, CA, to attend the University of Southern California, where he obtained a master of science in systems management, and where his first daughter, Sharla, was born. In 1966, he transferred to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, in Dayton, OH, where his second daughter, Celeste, was born. There he spent the remainder of his Air Force career working on many programs, including a remote tour as a battle director for the northern half of South Korea at Mangil-San, the F-4G Wild Weasel, and as executive officer for the F-16 program director. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Jerry continued working with various defense contractors, including Northrop Grumman on the B2 Spirit stealth bomber program. A legacy plate is displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patt in his honor, lovingly gifted by his daughters, and it states in his own words, “Loved every minute.” He is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 25 years, Louise; daughters, Sharla (Steven) Marks and Celeste (Richard) Meader; grandsons, Brad and Wade Marks; twin brother, Jim; sister-in-law, Janey; his special niece, Jennifer Gilchrist; his nephews and their families, as well as several cousins and many close family friends and neighbors who loved him. He was preceded in death by his parents, his elder brother, Walker H. Bateman III, and his nephew, Bill Bateman. There will be no services. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.