TRAYLOR, Gary

West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona February 26, 2010 Gary Traylor, 75, of Hot Springs, Ark., and formerly of Tonopah died Feb. 7, 2010, in Hot Springs. Mr. Traylor was born April 1, 1934, in Oakley, Kan. He grew up in Wichita, Kan., and graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in English. He flew jets and helicopters while serving in the Air Force and was commander of Mito Bombing and Gunnery Rage in Mito, Japan. He was a captain when he was discharged. He became a civilian helicopter instructor for the Army in Mineral Wells, Texas. Later, he moved to Alaska, where he taught in the winter and was a bush pilot in the summer. After working as a helicopter pilot in Sydney, Australia, he was sent to the Territory of Papua-New Guinea. He then taught at a community college in Kent, Wash., and earned a degree in cultural anthropology at the University of Washington. After teaching for a while, he accepted a contract in Bolivia, flying a helicopter over the jungles for a seismic company doing petroleum exploration for Phillips Petroleum Co. He worked as a helicopter pilot for Emergency Medical Service in Washington, Wisconsin, California, Nebraska and Arizona. He retired from AirEvac in 1996 and from teaching at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Perryville in Goodyear in 2005. In February 1995, he and his wife were featured in a West Valley View article about the historic retirement home they rebuilt on 40 acres in the desert in Tonopah. He is survived by his wife, Wanda. No services are planned. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 628 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901.