Col. Ernest Skip "Skip" Skinner

Colonel Ernest “Skip” M. Skinner was born in Springfield, MA on April 1, 1946 and passed away into God’s hands on October 16, 2015. Skip left behind his wife of 34 years Martha “Marty” Skinner, two brothers, Gary Skinner and his wife Susan from Fredericksburg, VA and Rick Skinner and his wife Susan from Lumberton, NJ as well as Sister-in-laws, Wendy Skinner from Des Moines, IA., Virginia Bassinger and her husband Alan from La Porte, TX. Skip has 7 nephews, 2 nieces, 3 grandnephews and 1 grandniece. After graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1969, Skip served as a pilot in the USAF. He flew more than 1170 combat hours during the Vietnam War. During his career he flew the A-10 Warthog for more than 1500 hours. He was the Vice-Commander at Davis Monthan Air Force Base from 1991 to 1994. His last assignment was as the Vice Commander of Fifth Air Force in Japan, where he retired as a full colonel in 1997.From 1999 to 2002, Skip attended the James E. Rogers School of Law at the University of Arizona, graduating cum laude. From 2002 to 2004, Skip served as a law clerk to the Hon. John M. Roll, Judge (later Chief Judge) of the District Court for the District of Arizona. During 2005 and 2006 Skip was a prosecutor while serving as a deputy Pima County Attorney. Since 2006, Skip served as a volunteer attorney with the Volunteer Lawyer Program, conducting Title 14 Guardianship clinics and Bankruptcy advice clinics. He also volunteered as supervising attorney for University of Arizona law students participating in the Regional Municipalities Veterans Treatment Court. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 20 from 5:30-9:00P.M at East Lawn Palms Mortuary. A Funeral Mass Wednesday, October 21 at Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church at 10:30 A.M. with a full military committal service to follow at East Lawn Palms.