Clarence Chalmer Reynolds

Clarence C. Reynolds was called home by his Lord and Savior on March 27, 2026. He was born on August 21,1935, in Olney, Texas. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Betty Reynolds, whom he met while serving in the Air Force at Lakenheath, England as a nuclear weapons bomb commander. She came to England, from Louisiana, as a school teacher working for the Department of Defense, and they were married just a year later.

Clarence is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Fortini and husband Bubba, and two grandchildren Brianna Grace and Evan Anthony Fortini. He was preceded in death by his son, James Randall Reynolds, sisters Marjorie Tapp and Evelyn Wallace, brothers James and Atwood Reynolds, parents James R. and Mary A. Reynolds.

Clarence graduated from Western Kentucky State College receiving an ROTC commission into the United States Air Force where he spent 28 years as a fighter pilot flying the F100 and F4 Phantom. He attended the Squadron Officers' School and completed the Command and Staff School as well as the Air War College. He served in England and was on nuclear alert during the 1961 Berlin Crisis, the beginning of the Berlin Wall and during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. In Libya, he trained for combat conventional and nuclear weapons. In Vietnam, he served combat duty in flying the 01 Birddog, a reconnaissance aircraft, and the F100 fighter that was capable of delivery of conventional and nuclear weapons. He flew 120 combat missions in the Birddog and 115 combat missions in the F100. The F100 was a supersonic fighter and flew more missions in Vietnam than all other fighters. The F100 was his dream aircraft, and much as he enjoyed it, he had to eject twice from uncontrollable aircraft. He had over 3200 hours in that fighter. He served in Thailand at Ubon AFB flying with the Night Owl Squadron where the F4s flew only at night during the conflict. In Texas, he flew with the Air National Guard and was commander of the 182 Tactical Fighter Squadron. At Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, he was an instructor in the F100 for over six years. At Edwards Air Force Base, California he was supervisor of Pressure Suit operations and oversaw their needs for the aircrew in the SR71, YF12, NF104, F4 and U2. He provided support for the NASA B-57 and AFSC Lifting Body. In Florida at Eglin Air Force Base, he was the chief of weapons and tactics where new fighter weapons were developed and tested. His awards included two Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters and The Distinguished Flying Cross. He thoroughly enjoyed his duties as a fighter pilot and was proud to serve his country. After his retirement from the Air Force, he was employed as a Flight Director with Loral Aviation flying an Aerostat at Matagorda, Texas.

He was commonly known as Strawberry or Straw and at times used it as his call sign when flying. Straw loved painting and writing. Straw was a long-time member of the Castle Hills Baptist Church but most recently a member of the Shearer Hills Baptist Church.

Visitation will be held at Forest Park East Funeral Home, 21620 Gulf Fwy, Webster, Texas 77598, on April 18, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Forest Park East Funeral Home, 21620 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX 77598, US, on April 18, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

A Catered Reception will follow at Forest Park East Funeral Home, 21620 Gulf Fwy, Webster, Texas 77598, on April 18, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.