John Donald Zachary

Lt. Col. John D. Zachary, USAF Ret, (85), passed away peacefully January 4, 2018 in Anaheim, California. John was born in Cleveland, Ohio January 26, 1932. He graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in 1954 with a BS degree in Marketing. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and played football under coaches Woody Hayes and Ara Parseghian. John played in the 1951 Salad Bowl, where Miami (OH) defeated Arizona State 31- 21, at Montgomery, Stadium, Phoenix, AZ. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1953.  Due to an injury, John returned to Miami for USAF ROTC Commissioning where he met his wife Marlene. His USAF career began at Lackland AFB, TX.  As a pilot, Col. Zachary flew F-102, F-86D, T-33, T-28, and T-34 jets. Col Zachary was a graduate of Squadron Officers School and the Air Command and Staff College. Col. Zachary was assigned to the 497th FIS, Geiger Field, in Spokane, Washington, and in June, 1958 was assigned to Torrejon AFB in Madrid, Spain.  He was reassigned to Andrews AFB, Maryland in June of 1961, with the 95th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. He flew for 6 years and was a member of the Order of Daedalians, a fraternal and professional order of American military pilots. In 1967, Col Zachary attended Harvard University, graduate School of Business Administration Program for Management Development. In 1968, Col Zachary was assigned to Norton AFB where he was a Management Analysis Officer for 7 years and a Cost Analysis Officer for 7 years. John was a Vietnam Veteran (1971-1972) where he was assigned to duty with the Military Assistance Command, in the Directorate of Comptroller as Chief, Cost Analysis Division. Following Vietnam, Col Zachary was assigned to Edwards Air Force base for 3 years as the Base Comptroller. Col Zachary returned to Norton Air Force Base where he was Acquisition Management Officer and retired after 30 years of service. He was proud to serve his country. John is survived by his wife, Marlene of 63 years, daughter Deborah, son John T., his brother Robert Zachary (Carol), his sister Virginia Krieger (Ed), and his youngest brother Arthur Zachary (Linda). He is preceded in death by his parents, John A. and Regina Zachary, and his sister Alice Kuczma (Ken). John provided a lifetime of love to those he knew, and will forever be in our hearts. Colonel Zachary will be laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California on January 26, 2018. The viewing will be at McAulay & Wallace Mortuary, Yorba Linda, California, on January 25th from 3:00 to 5:00PM. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Anaheim Braille Institute, or San Antonio Catholic Church in Anaheim Hills, CA in the name of John D. Zachary.