Melvin Gary Alkire

M Gary Alkire died on August 3, 2025 at the age of 89. Gary was born on October 24, 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio. His Mother, Louise Gary, was born Virginia; his Father, Herbert Alkire, was born in West Virginia. They met teaching school in Wise, Virginia and were married in Kenbridge, Virginia on June 12, 1931. The family lived in several cities as his father served as meteorologist at city airports. The family settled in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1942.

He attended an all-boys public high school, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, where he was introduced to the major engineering disciplines, advanced mathematics, and science over the four-year program. He was honored with a Congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy graduating with the Class of 1957 as a member of the 9th Company.

Upon graduation he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He was initially assigned to Francis E Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, where he served three years as base civil engineering planning and programming officer supporting bed down of the first operational ICBM in the Air Force inventory. He moved to Purdue University in 1961; he earned his Masters of Science in Civil Engineering. In February 1963, he was assigned to Toul Rosieres Air Base, France, where he served as Chief of the Engineering Division supporting bed down of the RF4C. In 1965 he began the first of three tours in the Pentagon with assignment to the Construction Division, Directorate of Civil Engineering, Headquarters US Air Force, where he was responsible for monitoring Air Force construction in Southeast Asia. In January 1970, he began a one-year tour in Vietnam where he served as Chief of the Construction Operations and Management Branch, Military Assistance Command, overseeing restoration of the civilian highway system.

He returned to the United States in February1971 and was assigned to England Air Force Base as Commander of the 23rd Civil Engineering Squadron and Base Civil Engineer. In January 1973 he returned to Air Force Headquarters in Washington DC and served as Chief of the Construction Division before returning to Europe where he served as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff Engineering and Services for the Air Force in Europe. Subsequent assignments included Deputy Chief of Staff for Engineering and Services for the Air Training Command at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Engineering and Services for the Logistics Command at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

In 1982 he returned to Washington where he served as Deputy Director of Civil Engineering for the Air Force. In October 1984 he returned to Texas, assigned to Kelly Air Force Base, where he served as Commander of the Air Force Commissary Service until retirement as a Major General in December 1989.

The enlisted personnel of the Air Force recognized him in 1989 with award of the Order of the Sword for “Outstanding Support to the Enlisted Corps”. He was the first Air Civil Engineer to be so honored and only the 126th so honored by the Air Force.

During his military career, he received many awards and decorations; the most significant being the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with three clusters, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with one cluster.

In 1992 he joined an international engineering firm and served for eight years managing environmental and engineering contracts for the US Air Force.

More significant, he served on the Board of Directors of Air Force Village, a retirement community in San Antonio, for 13 years, Chairman of the Board for three years, and was elected President/ CEO in 2008, serving in that capacity until retirement in 2011.

He served on many boards, civic and church committees including the Alamo Dome Citizens Advisory Committee, Light House for the Blind, VIA Transit Company, and was Lay Leader for a walk to Emmaus for Coker Methodist Church.

He was a registered Professional Engineer in Virginia and Texas.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, the former Ellen Hanson of Albert Lea, Minnesota; son David (JoAnne) and daughters Carolyn, Laurie (Lorin), and Debbie; seven grandchildren, and a brother William (Alice) Alkire.

We want to express our sincere thanks to the support and care to the staff at Blue Skies Freedom House.

Memorial services will be held on August 19th at 2PM at Blue Skies of Texas West with internment in the family plot in Kenbridge, Va.