Michael Allen Stiner

Mike is survived by his Mother, Janet Stiner of Macon, GA, his two sisters Debbie Alligood of Minot, ND and Sharon Pugh of Cumming, GA. He is predeceased by his father James Stiner. Burial was private, in the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Milledgeville, Georgia, on Wednesday, November 18, 2020.

Mike was born in Warner Robins, Georgia on December 23, 1958. Mike attended Warner Robins High School, joined the Air Force July 24, 1978, and served until his honorable discharge as Sergeant on June 23, 1984. While in the Service, Mike earned his Airlift Maintenance Specialist Certification and the FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic Certification. Mike’s station of entry was Warner Robins AFB, Georgia and his station of separation was Pope AFB, North Carolina.

While serving in the Air Force, Mike earned the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Air Force Longevity Award and Air Force Training Ribbon.

After leaving the Service, Mike continued to pursue his career in aviation. He worked for a company in Jacksonville, Florida specializing in the rebuilding of C-130 and Lockheed L-111 propellers which then lead him to a position as In-Flight Master A&P Mechanic with an international cargo company based in London. Mike traveled the world for several years with this position and during one delivery, was restrained when their Lockheed L-111 cargo plane landed at Banjul International Airport in Gambia. A Nigerian based company alleged that their Iranian based cargo client committed fraudulent transactions and theft.

The passports of all flight personnel were seized, and the entire flight staff were restrained from leaving. The L-111 plane and its cargo were seized by AK-47 wielding Gambian Military troops. The Supreme Court of Gambia proceedings lasted for over two years. Conditional of the restraint during the court proceedings was that all salaries received by the personnel be converted to Gambian dalasi and spent in the local economy.

Rather than remaining at the seaside resort as did the other crew, Mike walked from village to village to meet with their chiefs and arrange to invest in and oversee the installation of crop irrigation and freshwater wells. During his travels on foot, he noticed the motion of a group of people in the jungle who would stop as he stopped and resume walking when he did. He eventually walked towards them to discover that they were a native war party whose mission was to ensure his safety while traveling from village to village. To these grateful people, Mike was a compassionate humanitarian. This is just one example of many of Mike’s generous and benevolent nature.

After returning stateside in 1992, Mike was employed with Chevron Corporation in Jacksonville Florida By 1994 he was transferred to the Chevron Doraville Terminal to be promoted to Terminal Manager until he retired in 2014.

Mike enjoyed boating on Lake Lanier, long walks and mountain biking in the national forests, and taking trips to Jamaica to enjoy the tropical island life. In his retirement, Mike spent most of his time traveling about in Florida along the east coast to the Florida Keys as well as an occasional trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway to camp.

This account of Mike’s travels was penned by Mike’s lifelong friend Chris Taylor who, among his immediate family and countless close friends shall miss him so dearly as we cherish our fond memories.