Lyn Ray Officer, Sr.

Lyn Ray Officer, Sr.
How do you say goodbye to your hero? My father Lt. Col Lyn Ray Officer, Sr. (USAF Retired) was born on February 1, 1935 in Mt. Shasta, California to James Martin Officer and Odell Lane Officer. He left us on May 31, 2013 in Valdosta, Georgia. My father taught us that God, Country and Honor come before self. My father fell in love with his first love "flying" at the age of 5 in Missouri. My father fell in love with his second love my mother while he was stationed at Moody Field as an instructor pilot. He met her in September, dated her in October and married Marjorie Doreen Carter Officer on November 17, 1958 at Lee Street Baptist Church. They spent 55 wonderful years together as she followed him from Moody to Lubbock Texas to Luke AFB, Arizona to Hahn AFB Germany then he dropped her back in Valdosta while he went to Vietnam where he flew 252 combat missions. When he returned we all moved to Fort Richie, Maryland (he had to drive down to Andrews AFB to fly), then it was off to Montgomery AFB Alabama, where he was an Oral Historian and taught at the Air Force War College, next came Camp Smith, Hawaii where he was at the Pacific Command Headquarters and handled all strategic planning and satellite issues. He brought us back to Valdosta after that because he had to go on a remote assignment to Won Ju, Korea to be the liaison Officer to the Commander, First Republic of Korea Army. He came back to Moody AFB as Chief of Plans and retired from there with 29 years, 9 months and 14 days of service in the USAF. During his lifetime he has flown over 14, 000 hours. While in the USAF he flew F-86, T-33, T-37 and the F-100.
Lt. Col Lyn Ray Officer, Sr. (USAF Retired) leaves behind his devoted wife Marjorie Doreen Carter Officer, his daughter Pamela Dee Officer and her sons Donald Alexander Graczyk and Viktor Officer Graczyk all of Valdosta. His son Lyn Ray Officer, Jr. who is married to Kristin Porter Officer, they are expecting the birth of twin girls in July whose names will be Julie Pamela Officer and Olivia Doreen Officer all of Glen Allen, Virginia. He also leaves behind his identical twin brother Lt. Col. Upton Day Officer (USAF Retired) from Humble, Texas. People have told me that my father is a throwback from the age of real men. That makes me feel good because there aren't enough real men left in this world and one more is now gone but never will be forgotten.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Chaplain Donald Bridges will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery with Military Honors and Masonic Rites at the graveside. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday evening from 5 – 7 p.m. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, 2263 Pineview Drive, Valdosta, GA 31602. Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602