PREBLE, William Edmund Col.

William Edmund Preble, Col. (retired) USAF left us at 8:40 a.m. Friday May 28, 2010 due to Alzheimers and complications. Born on January 12, 1924 to Carl and Ethel Preble in Vincennes, Indiana. He spent most of his childhood in New Castle, Indiana. After graduating from Chrysler High School, Bill spent one and a half years at Purdue University before entering the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. After earning his wings in 1944, his first duty assignment was flying P-38s in the Aleutian Islands from December 1944 until the Spring of 1947. Then he was stationed at Shaw AFB flying the first F-84 Sabres with the 20th Fighter Bomber Wing. While in South Carolina he met Lou-Ann Baumann, and they were married in her hometown of Sumter in 1949. During his 30 year career he flew a large number of aircraft, ending his career flying the F-4 Phantom Jet in Vietnam. During his service time, he also earned a number of commendation medals. He retired in August of 1972 out of Davis-Monthan AFB, remaining in Tucson with his family for the rest of his life. Bill earned his Bachelor and Master's degrees in Public Administration from the University of Arizona in the 1970's. He was active in local and statewide Republican politics for 37 years. His greatest achievement was serving as the campaign chair of his wife's four campaigns for the Arizona House of Representatives, all of which were successful. The most important thing in his life, after his faith, was his family. Predeceased by his parents, Carl and Ethel; his sister, Helen Kennedy, and his brother, Thomas Preble. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lou-Ann, their children, William, Cynthia, Patricia, Michael (Jenny), Carolyn, John (Nancy), Mary (Mike), Andrew, Matthew (Susan), Catherine and Margaret (Donald); and his brothers. Robert (Katherine), Charles (Maria) and Timothy (Karen). His life was blessed with 27 grandchildren: Anna, Naoki, Marcus (Amy), Alison, Michael, Christopher, Sarah, Stephanie (Aaron), Jonathan, Ryan, Kaitlin, Amanda (Joe), Joshua (Jamie), Craig (Melissa), Heather, James (Beverly), Joseph, Lisa, Andrew, Ashton, Lauren, Tyler, Elisabeth, Sarah, William, Chase and Abaigeal, as well as seven great-grandchildren: Alexander, William, Caden, Rowena, Emma, Addison, and June. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at BRING'S ON BROADWAY, with a rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Church, with burial services to follow at All Faith Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 1375 S. Camino Seco, Tucson, AZ 85710. Published in the Tucson Newspapers on May 31, 2010