Alan John Bakas, 86, DuBois, died peacefully in his sleep, Nov. 23, 2014.
Born May 22, 1928, in DuBois, he was the son of William and Leocadia Bakas.
Alan graduated from DuBois High School in 1946 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he served as a communication specialist at Ramey AFB, P.R.
He later "re-upped" and transferred to the AF and married the love of his life, Loretta Yonushonis April 29, 1950.
After attending Officer Candidate School, OCS class of 54B, he successfully completed pilot/Bombardier training and spent the next 20 years as an AF pilot, flying numerous aircraft including B-47, U-6A, C-123. Alan served as a staff communication officer during his tour in Vietnam. His last assignment was as consultant to the Joint Military Commission in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
After retiring from the AF in 1970, Al obtained his bachelor's degree from Rollins College and briefly taught at FIT.
Missing flying, he returned to the skies working for Mann International and moved the family to the Dominican Republic where they remained for 26 years.
In 2002, he finally retired to Anthem where he was the founding Commander of the Daisy Mountain VFW Post 10231 and active with the Daisy Mountain American Legion Post 128.
Alan is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Loretta; brother, Norbert Bakas of Pittsburgh; children: Loretta Allen (Stephen), Richland, Wash., Alaine Kelley Gregory of Pennsylvania, Thomas Bakas (Eileen), Apex, N.C., Linda (Eddy), Mauk, Ga., Lisa Vargas-Slavik (David), Phoenix; grandchildren: Alan Martinez, Brent Kelley, Ryan Kelley, Jessica Bakas, Rebecca Allen-White, Heather Gregory-Ansinger, Daniel Allen, Teresa Vargas, Katrina Vargas, Thomas Gregory, Sabrina Vargas; great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Alan was preceded in death by his sister, Connie; brothers, Ron and Adrian; and son, William.
A service will be held at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Anthem Community Park at the Veterans Memorial followed by a pot-luck Celebration of Life at the Daisy Mountain VFW Post.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Alan's name to the Daisy Mountain VFW at 3701 Anthem Way, Anthem, AZ 85086.
Published in The Courier Express from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, 2014
Born May 22, 1928, in DuBois, he was the son of William and Leocadia Bakas.
Alan graduated from DuBois High School in 1946 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he served as a communication specialist at Ramey AFB, P.R.
He later "re-upped" and transferred to the AF and married the love of his life, Loretta Yonushonis April 29, 1950.
After attending Officer Candidate School, OCS class of 54B, he successfully completed pilot/Bombardier training and spent the next 20 years as an AF pilot, flying numerous aircraft including B-47, U-6A, C-123. Alan served as a staff communication officer during his tour in Vietnam. His last assignment was as consultant to the Joint Military Commission in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
After retiring from the AF in 1970, Al obtained his bachelor's degree from Rollins College and briefly taught at FIT.
Missing flying, he returned to the skies working for Mann International and moved the family to the Dominican Republic where they remained for 26 years.
In 2002, he finally retired to Anthem where he was the founding Commander of the Daisy Mountain VFW Post 10231 and active with the Daisy Mountain American Legion Post 128.
Alan is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Loretta; brother, Norbert Bakas of Pittsburgh; children: Loretta Allen (Stephen), Richland, Wash., Alaine Kelley Gregory of Pennsylvania, Thomas Bakas (Eileen), Apex, N.C., Linda (Eddy), Mauk, Ga., Lisa Vargas-Slavik (David), Phoenix; grandchildren: Alan Martinez, Brent Kelley, Ryan Kelley, Jessica Bakas, Rebecca Allen-White, Heather Gregory-Ansinger, Daniel Allen, Teresa Vargas, Katrina Vargas, Thomas Gregory, Sabrina Vargas; great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Alan was preceded in death by his sister, Connie; brothers, Ron and Adrian; and son, William.
A service will be held at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Anthem Community Park at the Veterans Memorial followed by a pot-luck Celebration of Life at the Daisy Mountain VFW Post.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Alan's name to the Daisy Mountain VFW at 3701 Anthem Way, Anthem, AZ 85086.
Published in The Courier Express from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, 2014
Alan John Bakas, 86, DuBois, died peacefully in his sleep, Nov. 23, 2014.
Born May 22, 1928, in DuBois, he was the son of William and Leocadia Bakas.
Alan graduated from DuBois High School in 1946 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he served as a communication specialist at Ramey AFB, P.R.
He later "re-upped" and transferred to the AF and married the love of his life, Loretta Yonushonis April 29, 1950.
After attending Officer Candidate School, OCS class of 54B, he successfully completed pilot/Bombardier training and spent the next 20 years as an AF pilot, flying numerous aircraft including B-47, U-6A, C-123. Alan served as a staff communication officer during his tour in Vietnam. His last assignment was as consultant to the Joint Military Commission in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
After retiring from the AF in 1970, Al obtained his bachelor's degree from Rollins College and briefly taught at FIT.
Missing flying, he returned to the skies working for Mann International and moved the family to the Dominican Republic where they remained for 26 years.
In 2002, he finally retired to Anthem where he was the founding Commander of the Daisy Mountain VFW Post 10231 and active with the Daisy Mountain American Legion Post 128.
Alan is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Loretta; brother, Norbert Bakas of Pittsburgh; children: Loretta Allen (Stephen), Richland, Wash., Alaine Kelley Gregory of Pennsylvania, Thomas Bakas (Eileen), Apex, N.C., Linda (Eddy), Mauk, Ga., Lisa Vargas-Slavik (David), Phoenix; grandchildren: Alan Martinez, Brent Kelley, Ryan Kelley, Jessica Bakas, Rebecca Allen-White, Heather Gregory-Ansinger, Daniel Allen, Teresa Vargas, Katrina Vargas, Thomas Gregory, Sabrina Vargas; great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Alan was preceded in death by his sister, Connie; brothers, Ron and Adrian; and son, William.
A service will be held at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Anthem Community Park at the Veterans Memorial followed by a pot-luck Celebration of Life at the Daisy Mountain VFW Post.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Alan's name to the Daisy Mountain VFW at 3701 Anthem Way, Anthem, AZ 85086.
Published in The Courier Express from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, 2014
Born May 22, 1928, in DuBois, he was the son of William and Leocadia Bakas.
Alan graduated from DuBois High School in 1946 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he served as a communication specialist at Ramey AFB, P.R.
He later "re-upped" and transferred to the AF and married the love of his life, Loretta Yonushonis April 29, 1950.
After attending Officer Candidate School, OCS class of 54B, he successfully completed pilot/Bombardier training and spent the next 20 years as an AF pilot, flying numerous aircraft including B-47, U-6A, C-123. Alan served as a staff communication officer during his tour in Vietnam. His last assignment was as consultant to the Joint Military Commission in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
After retiring from the AF in 1970, Al obtained his bachelor's degree from Rollins College and briefly taught at FIT.
Missing flying, he returned to the skies working for Mann International and moved the family to the Dominican Republic where they remained for 26 years.
In 2002, he finally retired to Anthem where he was the founding Commander of the Daisy Mountain VFW Post 10231 and active with the Daisy Mountain American Legion Post 128.
Alan is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Loretta; brother, Norbert Bakas of Pittsburgh; children: Loretta Allen (Stephen), Richland, Wash., Alaine Kelley Gregory of Pennsylvania, Thomas Bakas (Eileen), Apex, N.C., Linda (Eddy), Mauk, Ga., Lisa Vargas-Slavik (David), Phoenix; grandchildren: Alan Martinez, Brent Kelley, Ryan Kelley, Jessica Bakas, Rebecca Allen-White, Heather Gregory-Ansinger, Daniel Allen, Teresa Vargas, Katrina Vargas, Thomas Gregory, Sabrina Vargas; great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Alan was preceded in death by his sister, Connie; brothers, Ron and Adrian; and son, William.
A service will be held at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Anthem Community Park at the Veterans Memorial followed by a pot-luck Celebration of Life at the Daisy Mountain VFW Post.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Alan's name to the Daisy Mountain VFW at 3701 Anthem Way, Anthem, AZ 85086.
Published in The Courier Express from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, 2014
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