William Benjamin Funk

William Benjamin Funk, “Bill” to his colleagues, “Ben” to his family, died on December 4, 2014. Though born in Chula Vista, CA on October 26, 1928, he was reared by his loving parents, Dr. & Mrs. Charles E. Funk in Rowayton, Connecticut. The youngest of six children, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps right after High School and was fortunate to be accepted into Aviation Cadet Pilot training at Randolph AFB in June 1947. His first significant assignment on graduation was to Frankfurt, Germany to participate in the Berlin Airlift, from which he received invaluable piloting skills that served him well throughout his flying career. In December of 1949 he married his High School sweetheart, the late Patricia Ann Greene, at the Church of the Transfiguration (“The Little Church around the Corner”) in New York City. Air Force service took the growing family to many military installations, both around this country and overseas, living in such places as Dayton, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; San Antonio, Texas; Manchester, New Hampshire; and several locations in Washington, D.C. area. Overseas assignments included Frankfurt, Germany; Agana Naval Station, Guam; Subic Naval Base in the Philippines; Yokohama, Japan; and Izmir, Turkey. While stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB a family friend who was a Vice President of NCR gave him what was to become his most prized possession, a plaque imbedded with pieces of the Wright Brothers 1903 aircraft that flew at Kitty Hawk, authenticated by Orville Wright himself. Despite having full time assignments as a pilot, through correspondence courses and night school he received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maryland in 1964. After retirement from the Air Force, he then joined the Central Intelligence Agency as a computer analyst and planning officer and served with them until a disability retirement in 1983, but not before receiving the first ever intelligence Commendation Medal given by the CIA. Post retirement undertakings included service as an Auxiliary policeman with the Fairfax County Police Department, a computer instructor at different locations in Washington, D.C. and San Antonio, and a self-employed computer programmer, having successfully implemented computer software for the Windcrest Golf Club and also for The Coastal Trucking Co. of Corpus Christi.

He is survived by his son, William Funk, Jr.; his daughters, Paule M. Nagy and Katherine A. Frandanisa; and his grandchildren, Aurelia & Elek Nagy and Marina & Mark Frandanisa.

The Memorial Service will be 10 am, Saturday, December 13, 2014 at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. Private burial will be at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.