Feb. 19, 1919 — July 7, 2006
Retired Chief Master Sgt. Everett Wayne Stoops, U.S. Air Force, of Albany died Friday, July 7, after a valiant fight against complications of heart and lung disease. He was 87.
Born in Hamilton County, Ind., to Ernest and Edith (Christy) Stoops, he was one of eight children.
Graduating from high school at 16, he worked in the family grocery store. Enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1940, he attended aircraft maintenance schools and participated in submarine patrol missions until crashing in a B-26 aircraft on Dec. 18, 1941. He served 34 months in Australia, New Guinea, Dutch New Guinea and Owi Island, maintaining and, in some cases, rebuilding planes before returning to the United Stated.
He then married Wilma Ridenour of Indiana, whom he had met on a blind date before he went overseas and asked to marry him on their third date. He left the service in 1945 as a master sergeant but after three years re-enlisted in the U.S Air Force, where he remained for 30 years of active service.
He was stationed all over the world from England to Labrador, Canada, to Vietnam and the Philippines, and traveled to Scotland, Bermuda, Guam, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Greenland and points in between. As often as possible, his family and their dogs accompanied him.
He was one of the first men to attain the rank of chief master sergeant, the highest a non-commissioned officer can hold. Upon retirement, the family moved to Albany, where Wayne worked as parts manager for Dorsey Bus Company and then for J and J Electric until his final retirement in 1984. He continued to work part time until 1998.
He enjoyed camping, neighborhood and family get-togethers, and taking his friends flying. He was a voracious reader, enjoying mysteries, westerns, war novels, nonfiction and the occasional Danielle Steel. An avid dog lover, he also discovered the joy of owning cats during the last 30 years of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Lydia, and siblings. Survivors include Wilma, his wife of 61 years; daughter Elizabeth "Libby" Stoops, husband Vernon Smith and grandson Connor Stoops-Smith; niece Nancy Gressler of Springfield; several nieces and nephews east of the Rockies; and many, many friends.
Wayne will be remembered as a quiet man who valued his family and friends; loved animals; and was always available to lend a hand. He is missed.
Albany Democrat Herald July 21, 2006
Retired Chief Master Sgt. Everett Wayne Stoops, U.S. Air Force, of Albany died Friday, July 7, after a valiant fight against complications of heart and lung disease. He was 87.
Born in Hamilton County, Ind., to Ernest and Edith (Christy) Stoops, he was one of eight children.
Graduating from high school at 16, he worked in the family grocery store. Enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1940, he attended aircraft maintenance schools and participated in submarine patrol missions until crashing in a B-26 aircraft on Dec. 18, 1941. He served 34 months in Australia, New Guinea, Dutch New Guinea and Owi Island, maintaining and, in some cases, rebuilding planes before returning to the United Stated.
He then married Wilma Ridenour of Indiana, whom he had met on a blind date before he went overseas and asked to marry him on their third date. He left the service in 1945 as a master sergeant but after three years re-enlisted in the U.S Air Force, where he remained for 30 years of active service.
He was stationed all over the world from England to Labrador, Canada, to Vietnam and the Philippines, and traveled to Scotland, Bermuda, Guam, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Greenland and points in between. As often as possible, his family and their dogs accompanied him.
He was one of the first men to attain the rank of chief master sergeant, the highest a non-commissioned officer can hold. Upon retirement, the family moved to Albany, where Wayne worked as parts manager for Dorsey Bus Company and then for J and J Electric until his final retirement in 1984. He continued to work part time until 1998.
He enjoyed camping, neighborhood and family get-togethers, and taking his friends flying. He was a voracious reader, enjoying mysteries, westerns, war novels, nonfiction and the occasional Danielle Steel. An avid dog lover, he also discovered the joy of owning cats during the last 30 years of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Lydia, and siblings. Survivors include Wilma, his wife of 61 years; daughter Elizabeth "Libby" Stoops, husband Vernon Smith and grandson Connor Stoops-Smith; niece Nancy Gressler of Springfield; several nieces and nephews east of the Rockies; and many, many friends.
Wayne will be remembered as a quiet man who valued his family and friends; loved animals; and was always available to lend a hand. He is missed.
Albany Democrat Herald July 21, 2006
Feb. 19, 1919 — July 7, 2006
Retired Chief Master Sgt. Everett Wayne Stoops, U.S. Air Force, of Albany died Friday, July 7, after a valiant fight against complications of heart and lung disease. He was 87.
Born in Hamilton County, Ind., to Ernest and Edith (Christy) Stoops, he was one of eight children.
Graduating from high school at 16, he worked in the family grocery store. Enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1940, he attended aircraft maintenance schools and participated in submarine patrol missions until crashing in a B-26 aircraft on Dec. 18, 1941. He served 34 months in Australia, New Guinea, Dutch New Guinea and Owi Island, maintaining and, in some cases, rebuilding planes before returning to the United Stated.
He then married Wilma Ridenour of Indiana, whom he had met on a blind date before he went overseas and asked to marry him on their third date. He left the service in 1945 as a master sergeant but after three years re-enlisted in the U.S Air Force, where he remained for 30 years of active service.
He was stationed all over the world from England to Labrador, Canada, to Vietnam and the Philippines, and traveled to Scotland, Bermuda, Guam, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Greenland and points in between. As often as possible, his family and their dogs accompanied him.
He was one of the first men to attain the rank of chief master sergeant, the highest a non-commissioned officer can hold. Upon retirement, the family moved to Albany, where Wayne worked as parts manager for Dorsey Bus Company and then for J and J Electric until his final retirement in 1984. He continued to work part time until 1998.
He enjoyed camping, neighborhood and family get-togethers, and taking his friends flying. He was a voracious reader, enjoying mysteries, westerns, war novels, nonfiction and the occasional Danielle Steel. An avid dog lover, he also discovered the joy of owning cats during the last 30 years of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Lydia, and siblings. Survivors include Wilma, his wife of 61 years; daughter Elizabeth "Libby" Stoops, husband Vernon Smith and grandson Connor Stoops-Smith; niece Nancy Gressler of Springfield; several nieces and nephews east of the Rockies; and many, many friends.
Wayne will be remembered as a quiet man who valued his family and friends; loved animals; and was always available to lend a hand. He is missed.
Albany Democrat Herald July 21, 2006
Retired Chief Master Sgt. Everett Wayne Stoops, U.S. Air Force, of Albany died Friday, July 7, after a valiant fight against complications of heart and lung disease. He was 87.
Born in Hamilton County, Ind., to Ernest and Edith (Christy) Stoops, he was one of eight children.
Graduating from high school at 16, he worked in the family grocery store. Enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1940, he attended aircraft maintenance schools and participated in submarine patrol missions until crashing in a B-26 aircraft on Dec. 18, 1941. He served 34 months in Australia, New Guinea, Dutch New Guinea and Owi Island, maintaining and, in some cases, rebuilding planes before returning to the United Stated.
He then married Wilma Ridenour of Indiana, whom he had met on a blind date before he went overseas and asked to marry him on their third date. He left the service in 1945 as a master sergeant but after three years re-enlisted in the U.S Air Force, where he remained for 30 years of active service.
He was stationed all over the world from England to Labrador, Canada, to Vietnam and the Philippines, and traveled to Scotland, Bermuda, Guam, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Greenland and points in between. As often as possible, his family and their dogs accompanied him.
He was one of the first men to attain the rank of chief master sergeant, the highest a non-commissioned officer can hold. Upon retirement, the family moved to Albany, where Wayne worked as parts manager for Dorsey Bus Company and then for J and J Electric until his final retirement in 1984. He continued to work part time until 1998.
He enjoyed camping, neighborhood and family get-togethers, and taking his friends flying. He was a voracious reader, enjoying mysteries, westerns, war novels, nonfiction and the occasional Danielle Steel. An avid dog lover, he also discovered the joy of owning cats during the last 30 years of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Lydia, and siblings. Survivors include Wilma, his wife of 61 years; daughter Elizabeth "Libby" Stoops, husband Vernon Smith and grandson Connor Stoops-Smith; niece Nancy Gressler of Springfield; several nieces and nephews east of the Rockies; and many, many friends.
Wayne will be remembered as a quiet man who valued his family and friends; loved animals; and was always available to lend a hand. He is missed.
Albany Democrat Herald July 21, 2006
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