William Douglas McIntyre Jr.

The family of William (Bill) Douglas McIntyre, Jr. sadly announces his death in Longmont, Colorado on Sunday, October 13, 2024. Bill, a kind and humble Christian, was blessed to have prayer, companionship, and spiritual peace from his loving pastors George Hesse and Dave Ahlman in his final days at home with his son Duane and partner Betty at his side.

Bill was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in January 1942 to William Douglas McIntyre Sr. and Laurene Littel McIntyre and joined his older sister Katherine in the very active and secure McIntyre household. The McIntyre family were pillars of the Eau Claire community. Bill was proud of his father who served in W.W.I and started the wholesale bakery business Tender Krust (Bake-Rite) later with 65 employees and a fleet of over 50 delivery trucks. Bill Sr. was president of the YMCA, headed the Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the state panel of arbitrators and a Republican delegate to three National conventions, city council member and on the board of regents of state universities for 20 years. It was an incredible legacy to follow, but Bill, Jr. succeeded in the challenge.

In 1948, the McIntyre Sr. family purchased a cottage on Lower Long Lake near Auburn and Bill spent many happy years with friends and family at both of their houses. Bill attended grade school at Eau Claire Campus School and then attended Memorial High School where he was a competitive skier with the Old Abe varsity ski team. A team trip to Colorado piqued his interest to skiing challenges of the Colorado mountains.

Before graduating high school in 1960, Bill assisted his father in the bakery business, baking bread and helping with the truck fleet. He also became very interested in the company plane, the beginning of his flying career. After his first solo flight at age 16 and obtaining several flight licenses, he flew his mother to Florida for a short trip.

Bill attended the University of Colorado at Boulder majoring in economics and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He related that during his C.U. years he supplemented his income by working as a flight instructor at the Boulder Airport “to earn money for skiing, hunting, and drinking beer.” After receiving a B.A. degree in 1964, he also consecutively received a U.S. Armed services draft notice, prompting him to immediately go the local Navy recruiting office and volunteer to become a naval pilot, but first he bargained with the recruiting officer to go on one last hunting trip in Colorado.

Navy Ensign McIntyre received his commission in April 1965 from the U.S. Naval Preflight School in Pensacola, Florida and was designated Naval Flight Officer in December 1965. On his birthday he reported for duty with Heavy Attack squadron 1223 at The Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, WA. His first Vietnam tour November 1966 to June 1967 was spent on the carrier USS Kitty Hawk. His second tour, beginning May 1968, was on the attack carrier USS Constellation (CVA-64) in the thick of action as bombardier on the Grumman A6A Intruder fighter bomber — one of the most sophisticated complex airplanes in the U.S. with an extremely accurate computerized radar ballistics system. By 1969 Lieutenant McIntyre successfully completed his 100th landing in his A6 aircraft aboard the Constellation.

Bill received numerous Air Medals after participating in 187 successful combat missions in the Vietnam war zone as a bombardier-navigator in Heavy Attack Squadron 4. He was designated Nuclear Weapons Delivery Bombardier/Navigator, recommended as “an individual of marked competence and high moral integrity, psychologically adopted to perform Nuclear Delivery in the A6A aircraft.” In September 1967 he and his crew were recognized and honored by the fleet air commander at Whidbey Island for controlling the airborne refueling system on the three-man KA3B aircraft and saving nine aircraft. More accolades and honors came: the Navy Commendation Medal for Heroic Achievement, the presidential Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement in Aerial Flight, Vietnamese Air Gallantry Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.

In 1967 he met the beautiful Heather Hockin and they corresponded while she attended the University of British Columbia. After his Navy discharge and her graduation, Bill and Heather married in 1970 and she moved to Fairbanks, Alaska where Bill was working. Sons Duane (1972) and Michael (1976) were born in Fairbanks and claim dual citizenship of the U.S. and Canada. The family together with community neighbors participated in many outdoor activities including fishing and wilderness hunting of moose and caribou, preparing and preserving their results as a main meat source for the season. Bill and Heather were married for 27 years.

In the early 1970s Bill became project manager for Air Photo Tech, flying and conducting infra-red photography for the U.S. Forest Service. He then became managing partner of Aurora Air Service in Fairbanks, was an assistant guide and pilot in Bettles, Alaska. Bill’s commercial pilot career continued in later years as general manager and pilot of 40 Mile Air, Ltd. In Tok and Fairbanks, Alaska flying remote seismic oil exploration projects with the DeHavilland DHC and Cessna 185 on skis, floats and wheels. He became chief pilot and director of operations for Veterans Air Service, Inc. Tok, obtaining and performing contracts with BLM and state fire services. He became chief pilot and company instructor for Warbelow’s Air Ventures, Inc. in Fairbanks conducting commuter, charters, and medevac operations with daily flights to native communities. Bill’s pilot career ended as line pilot for Wright Air Service in Fairbanks flying charter flights to remote locations for mining, mineral and oil exploration for BLM archeology, oil lease permitting and activities on the Arctic north slope.

Aside from flying, Bill built Union oil and gas station, started Farmers Loop grocery and liquor business in Fairbanks, and designed and built the portable welding structures used to construct the Trans Alaska Pipeline. He built 27 HUD houses and schools in rural Alaska villages including a new school in the native community of Russian Mission, a medical clinic addition in Galena and developed a 210-acre rural residential subdivision in Fairbanks. In 1982 Mapco Petroleum Inc. recruited Bill as Director and Refinery Sales Manager and he negotiated all the company’s fuel contracts with Defense Fuels for the Air Force and Army, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, KLM, Carolux, Air France and others. He then started his own company to build an oil refinery in Fox Alaska. This latter project fell through because of financing issues.

Bill loved the wilderness of Alaska and built residences in Fairbanks and continued expanding and remodeling his homes. In 2019 he moved to Slocan, British Columbia to live his retirement with son Duane and enjoy skiing, hunting and fishing, and his grandchildren. It was in 2020 that he connected with one of his Boulder, Colorado C.U. schoolmates from the early 1960s, Betty LaVelle who lived in Longmont, Colorado. Bill made three round-trips from Slocan, British Columbia to Longmont, Colorado, (two in his Hyundai) before he declared Betty his “companion, soulmate and love forever.” Bill and Betty decided to become partners and blend their families who lovingly welcomed them.

At age 79, he again took up flying at the Boulder Municipal Airport and was able to solo in a glider. He then decided to build an aircraft in his garage, ordered plans, and joined the Experimental Aircraft Association at Longmont Vance Brand Airport and became their treasurer. However, there was not enough room in the garage for a small airplane and Bill abandoned his construction plans. Bill was a member of “The Dawgs” a team of the Berthoud Trap Shooting Club league, and an associate member of Mt. Hope Lutheran Church of Boulder.

Bill always said how much he loved his career as a pilot and as a bonus getting paid while loving what he was doing. May his legacy of boundless generosity and kindness, intellect, drive and character remain in the memories of his friends and family and may his soul shine in the splendor of God’s stars.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents Laurene and William Douglas McIntyre, Sr. He leaves behind his sons Duane (Mel Griffith) and Michael, grandchildren Marco and Alex, ex-wife Heather (Jim Derksen)—all of British Columbia, sister Katherine (Jerry Strader) of Eau Claire WI, nephews Hugh and Mac Durning, partner and companion Betty LaVelle of Longmont, CO, pets Sophie Dog and Baby “Bird,” step-family Hegers of Louisville, CO and many cousins.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held at 1 pm at Ahlberg Chapel, 326 Terry Street in Longmont on Monday, November 4, 2024.