Lieutenant Colonel, Jon Robert McMurtry, USAF, Retired, 83, of Tampa, Florida, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2019. Jon is preceded in death by his father and mother, William and Gene McMurtry, and his brother, Bill McMurtry. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jane McMurtry, daughter, Kirsten Garn and her husband Jim, daughter, Kelly Sublousky and her husband Joe, Colonel, USAF, Retired, and grandchildren Scott Sublousky and his wife Courtney, Sara Wynne and her husband Jonathan, First Lieutenant, US Army, Alex Garn, Ryan Garn and great grandson, Bryson Sublousky. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Helen McMurtry, nephew, David McMurtry, and several cousins.
Born in Enid, Oklahoma in 1936 during the “Dust Bowl”, Jon grew up in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He graduated from high school as a three sport letterman and band member. Jon was a distinguished military graduate of Oklahoma State University. While attending OSU he was a 1955 initiate of the Gamma Delta Chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity. He married his chapter “Sweetheart” in 1958. He received a lifetime Significant Sigma Chi award in 2019. He received his FAA Private Pilot certification while in AFROTC and entered the US Air Force and Pilot Training in 1959. He flew the T-34, T-28, as well as the T-33 before getting his wings at Vance Air Force Base where he was an instructor pilot and flight evaluator.
He flew several training aircraft at Laon Air Base in France and the RF-101 Voodoo in England. He trained as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) and flew missions in Laos, North Vietnam, and South Vietnam.
At the USAF Academy, Jon was the Officer in charge of the Cadet Soaring Program and Chief Pilot for the FAA approved program. Jon left the academy with over 1,000 sailplane flights and was as-signed back to ATC at Vance Air Force Base to a T-38 squadron as a Standardization/Evaluation Chief, then to the ATC IG team at Randolph Air Force Base.
He was a Texas Civil Air Patrol Wing Liaison Officer, then Director of Operations for a sixstate region for search and rescue operations and cadet programs as well as State Emergency Management and FEMA at the Naval Air Station in Texas. He retired from the USAF in 1987.
Jon had a distinguished military career in the US Air Force, flying 573 hours combat with 267 sor-ties, 12 different military aircraft, and 12 different civilian aircraft for a total of 6,252 hours of military flying and over 1,500 hours of civilian flying.
Jon earned citations for the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Distinguished Flying Cross, and earned 12 Air Medals and 5 Campaign Medals during his tour in Southeast Asia. His heroic combat rescue efforts are highlighted in two books: “The Rescue of Streetcar 304” by Kenny Wayne Fields (his wingman) and “Cheating Death” by George Marrett.
After Jon retired from the US Air Force he was Director of Quality for Reflectone, Inc. building military and civilian flight simulators. Subsequently, he worked for Bishop Construction as the Safety and Training Director.
During his retirement he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially fishing with his grandchildren. He was a great husband to Jane and sang to her each morning and brought her fresh flowers weekly. They loved to reminisce about the 1950s music and their fun college days. No matter how big or little the question, he always had an answer for his daughters. They always felt he put family first.
Jon continued his passion for flying in his 1942 Stearman, “Sam,” which he flew for twenty-two years. He was very active in his church and enjoyed singing in the choir. He looked forward to opening season each year for quail hunting with his close relatives in Shamrock, Texas. Each week he couldn’t wait to outshoot his buddies at the skeet range at MacDill Air Force Base and spend time hanging out with his local friends.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 23rd, 2019 at Village Presbyterian Church, 13115 S Village Dr., Tampa, Florida, 33618. Visitation - 10:00 am. Service - 11:00 am. A memorial service will follow at Bushnell National Cemetery at 1:30 pm. Donations may be made in memory of Jon to Village Presbyterian Church.
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