Curtis Clifford Truver

Lieutenant Colonel Curtis C. Clifford Truver, USAF, Retired, 85, formerly oof Weatherly, passed away on November 8, 2014 at his home in Jacksonville, FL.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Elisabeth Elias Truver.

Curtis was the son of the late Ira M. and Ethel M. (Stettler) Truver.

He is a 1945 graduate of Weatherly High School; Pennsylvania State College (BS in Forestry) class of 1949; and George Washington University (MBA) Class of 1963. He also attended various
U.S. Air Force schools, including Squadron Officers School and Command and Staff College.

In addition to his widow, Elisabeth E. Truver, FL, he is survived by:

Four children: Scott C. Truver and his wife, Annmarie, Severna Park, MD; Evelyn D. and her husband, Vincent Autuori, Shelton, CT; Mark B. Truver and his wife, Darlene, San Diego, CA; and Todd A. Truver and his wife, Daniela, Port St. Lucie, FL;

Nine grandchildren: Rebecca M. Truver Willinger, Odenton, MD; Kristen A. Truver, Manhattan, NYC; Susanne C. Truver, Severna Park, MD; Katherine L. Autuori, Guildford, CT; Amy C. Autuori, Chattanooga, TN; Brandt J. Truver and Bryce K. Truver, San Diego, CA; and Dylan K. Truver and Alex K. Truver, Port St. Lucie, FL.

Two great-grandchildren: Bennett S. Willinger and Hadley E. Willinger, Odenton, MD.

He was affiliated with the Reformed Church of Weatherly and Trinity Lutheran Church of Quakertown.

Col. Truver was a farmer, forester, U.S. Air Force Fighter Pilot, Director of Aviation Programs, Independent Tax Advisor, and Writer/historian.

Col. Truver served in the U.S. Air Force from 1949 to 1973. After completing flight training, he flew F80, F86, F104, F100 and F4 tactical fighter-attack aircraft, as well as training and Executive Transport aircraft.

He was based at Williams (AZ), Otis (MA), Suwan (Republic of Korea), Westover (MA), Eglin (FL), Tao Yhan (Formosa/Taiwan), Spangdahlem (West Germany), George (CA), and Udorn (Thailand) Air
Force Bases, and NATO AIRSOUTH Command in Naples (Italy). He also held non-flight billets at Maxwell (AL) and Luke (AZ) AFBs. He flew more than 300 combat missions in Korea (two MiG15 kills, one probable), the Quemoy/Matsu Crisis ( http://www.916-starfighter.de/F-104_USA_Quemoy.htm ), and Vietnam (was Commanding Officer of the 13th and 555th – “Triple Nickel" – Fighter Squadrons, Udorn, 1969-1970). He retired in 1973, as Chief of Maintenance, Luke AFB.

He received numerous Department of Defense campaign, combat and meritorious awards (e.g., the Meritorious Service Medal), as well as, a commendation for his service during the Quemoy/Matsu
Crisis personally awarded by Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Republic of China.

After he retired from military service, he worked for Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics, established the Jacksonville University flight program http://www.ju.edu/Aviation/Pages/Program-History.aspx ), and was active in the North Florida Soaring Society
( http://www.nfsoaring.org/home.html ). He was an Independent Tax Advisor. He wrote three books based on his aviation experience: Aviation History and Development (1984), It's Better to be Lucky (2000) and Sketches from a Pilot's Life (2006).

In lieu of flowers, he requested that donations be made to the Weatherly High School Scholarship Fund, C/O John Koehler, Class of 1945, 541 Fairview Street, Weatherly, PA 18255.

Funeral Services have been entrusted to the care of the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA. His family will receive friends on Saturday, November 29, 2014 from 9:30 AM until 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Services will follow at 11:00 AM, the Reverend Donald Stump officiating. Col. Truver will be buried with Military Honors at Union Cemetery, Weatherly, following the service.

Online condolences at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com