Ernest M. Maygarden

Lieutenant Colonel US Air Force retired, born in Mobile, Alabama, died on October 14. Son of Marceline A. Maygarden and Sarah X. Bryars Maygarden. He had five sisters, Marion Beaudrie, Madeline Cody, Luverne Harris, Zuline Kennedy, and Christine Brabner. Ernest wed the late Jeanette L. Keyser of Mobile in 1951 and they were married for 64 years. He is survived by his four children: Ernest, Jr., Madeline, Anthony, and Benjamin; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Ernest was educated in Mobile public schools, and in 1949 earned an MA in History at the University of Alabama. At the start of World War II he enlisted at age 19 and completed 25 combat missions over Europe as a B-17 navigator and Squadron Navigator with the 305th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, England. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. Subsequent Air Force service was as historian and intelligence officer in Japan; assistant air attaché in Rangoon, Burma; intelligence officer with Allied Forces Northern Europe in Oslo, Norway; USAF Headquarters intelligence staff in the Pentagon; and faculty member at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. In addition to combat awards, he received the Bronze Star Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and numerous campaign and service awards. After retirement from the Air Force in 1970, Ernest joined the Old Dominion University Research Foundation in Norfolk, Virginia where he became Executive Director. Ernest and Jeanette spent nine years on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, returning to Mobile in 1989. Ernie loved to golf and avidly followed Crimson Tide football. He was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Beloved to all his children. He will always exemplify our “Greatest Generation.” Visitation will be held at Radney Funeral Home on Saturday, October 21, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Graveside services will be held at Magnolia Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. Arrangements under the direction of Radney Funeral Home-Mobile, Mobile, AL.