John Jay Wilfong

Born in 1920 in Catawba County, NC, John was the last surviving sibling of the late Jay S. and Alma Roberta Wilfong. John was a member of Grace Reformed United Church of Christ in Newton, NC. His lovely wife, Mary McCain Wilfong, preceded him in death. He will be dearly missed by his many surviving nieces and nephews.

John graduated from Blackburn High School in Catawba County, NC. He enjoyed his many annual class reunion trips from Florida to North Carolina. John earned his BS degree from NC State University and shortly thereafter joined the Army Air Corps.

Serving on active duty for 28 years, John was a two war veteran of WWII and Vietnam rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In the Service’s growth from Air Corps to US Air Force, Col. Wilfong flew several different fighters, bombers and cargo aircraft. While flying the P-61 night fighter, “I’ll Get By” during the China Burma India conflict, he scored an aerial kill with his 20mm cannon on a Mitsubishi Ki-46 Dinah. On a subsequent night interdiction mission, his P-61 was shot down over China. Parachuting to safety, Col. Wilfong and his radar operator evaded enemy capture, moving at night and approximately six weeks later made it back to friendly forces. At the end of WWII, Col. Wilfong served as Commander of Attu Air Station, located at the western end of the Aleutian Chain. Between WWII and Vietnam, John served in the European Theater at Landstuhl, Germany. Col. Wilfong served with the Air Commandos in Vietnam. At Eglin Air Force Base, Florida in July 1969, Col. Wilfong was honorably retired from active duty.

John’s love of life after his retirement was fishing. This love led to his hobby for over 45 years of making fishing cast nets. One could ask almost any fisherman along the Panhandle of Florida and they would know the Colonel and proudly proclaim, “I’ve got one of his nets!” John will dearly be missed by all of his buddies at Ben’s Lake Marina on Eglin Air Force Base, FL.

The family will receive friends from 2-3pm on Sunday, January 19, 2014 at Grace Union Church. The Church is located across the street from the Grace Lutheran Church located at 4536 Hickory Lincolnton Highway, Newton, NC 28658. Funeral service will be at 3pm in Grace Union Church. The Rev. Dr. J. George Gilbert will officiate. Burial with full military honors will immediately follow the service in the church cemetery. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the nephews of Col. Wilfong.