Allan Richard Homstead
December 22, 1935 - January 08, 2019
Allan Richard Homstead, Major, USAF. Ret, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at the age of 83. He was born December 22, 1935 in Orono, Maine son of the late Beatrice (Thompson) and Richard A. Homstead. His family moved to Middletown, Connecticut and then to Oberlin, Ohio in 1948. After graduating from Oberlin High School in 1953, he attended General Motors and Indiana Institute of Technology.
In 1959 Allan enlisted in the Air Force becoming an F-4 Fighter Pilot. For his valor, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, multiple Air Medals and the Royal Medal of Thailand. Stationed at the USAF Academy as Chief of the Parachute Branch he was a mentor and inspiration to a generation of Air Force leaders. After serving as Chief of Life Support Systems Division at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Allan retired in 1978. Experienced in virtually every aspect of military and civilian aviation he subsequently contributed to the success of numerous civilian aviation-based institutions.
An avid outdoorsman, Allan’s lifelong passions included canoeing, fishing, firearms, hunting, hot rods, motorcycles, parachuting and enjoying his summer home on the coast of Maine. Marrying Karen on a hot air balloon, pride in his children and their accomplishments, and fishing as a youth in Kokadjo, ME were counted among his most significant memories. Tissue donation was Allan’s final act of service.
Allan is survived by his beloved wife, Karen S. Homstead (Simmons); daughter, Juliana Homstead and David Burdige of Norfolk, Virginia; son, Bradley A. Homstead and Patricia (Pfeffer) of Warsaw, Virginia; four grandchildren, Kayleigh, Sydney, Benjamin and Emily; one great-grandchild Juliana; sister, Jan Koepp of Oberlin, Ohio; as well as other family members and friends who loved and will miss him greatly. He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert G. Homstead.
He will be remembered in a private interment ceremony and Celebration of Life with family and friends at Westwood Cemetery, Oberlin, Ohio on September 27, 2021.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation www.pkdcure.org; Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) www.vfw.org; or US War Dog Association www.uswardogs.org/donations/.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Allan Richard Homstead, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
SERVICES
Celebration of Life
Monday, September 27, 2021
Westwood Cemetery
Oberlin, Ohio
