A Celebration of Life service for Col. Loren A. Gililland, USAF Ret (AL), 96, will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home at 12 p.m. The family will receive friends during a time of visitation on Friday, March 16, 2018 at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home 6-8 p.m.
Col. Gililland was born in Navasota, TX on May 19, 1921 and passed away on March 13, 2018. He graduated from Fair Park in 1938. He attended LA Tech for 3 years and joined the Army Air Corp in 1941. He was a pilot for the Army Air Corp and flew the PT19, BT9, AT6, out of Panama. Col. Gililland was transferred to England AFB to fly the B18, B17, B24, B25 and A26. He was then promoted to Wing Commander for the Berlin Aircraft flying C54’s. He was stationed at SAC bases throughout the U.S. and was stationed in London, Paris and Casablanca. He then moved up to SAC Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska flying the B47 and B50. Over time, Col. Gililland graduated with an engineering degree from the University of Nebraska in 1964. His final transfer was to BAFB where he retired in 1963 and became Traffic Control Supervisor until his second retirement in 1985.
Col. Gililland married Jean H. Gililland on May 20, 1942, the same day he graduated flying school for the Army Air Corp. They just celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary last May.
Col. Gililland was a member of the Exchange Club of Shreveport and played trumpet for the Shreveport German Band, Shreveport Symphony and his church.
Col. Gililland had a passion for woodworking. He also enjoyed taking his family on holiday camping trips at the lake with their 5 boys sleeping in a tent for a week of fishing and skiing. Over time it turned to watching his children and grandchildren grow into successful, responsible Christians and offering his advice to them when asked.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 75 years, Jean H. Gililland and their 5 sons, Randall A. Gililland (Cecelia) of Colorado Springs, CO, Michael L. Gililland (Ann) of Oxford, MS, Bradley P. Gililland (Linda) of New Braunfels, TX, Richard C. Gililland (Miriam) of Austin, TX, and Patrick M. Gililland (Frances) of Bossier City, LA. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Hazel L. Wallace and her husband, T.D. Wallace of Shreveport.
Col. Gililland will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
