Carl Tyner

Former longtime Anchorage resident Carl Edwin Tyner, 86, died Thursday, April 28, 2011, in Albuquerque, N.M., with his wife of 63 years by his side.

Carl was born Sept. 13, 1924, in Whittier, Calif., to James and Charlotte Tyner. He graduated from Excelsior High School in 1942, after which he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, received training as a pilot, and flying 35 missions as a B-17 "Flying Fortress" bomber pilot in World War II. Among other awards, Carl received the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Purple Heart for his service. His most memorable experience was being shot down over Germany, guiding his plane to friendly territory and ditching in a farmer's field, without injury to himself or his crew. Being the last to exit the plane after crashing, he was greeted by his crew, who jokingly said that it was the smoothest landing he had ever made.

On June 16, 1947, Carl married Leona Jane Kiser in Lakewood, Calif., and began his 63-year love affair. Shortly thereafter, he began working for Standard Oil Company (later Chevron) as an accountant. In 1965, he moved his family from familiar California to the far away land of Anchorage. Carl retired from Chevron in 1973 to avoid a second transfer away from Alaska. He started a petroleum accounting consulting firm and became a real estate broker. Later, he joined BP, where he worked until retiring in 1985. During his career, Carl served on the board of the Petroleum Club of Anchorage and as Treasurer of the Chevron Retirees Association. He was also a Mason and member of the BP Retirees Association.

Weekend camping trips at Quartz Creek Campground and fishing on the Russian River with his family were two of Carl's passions in life. He could not shake his love for the Cooper Landing area, where he and Leona later bought a cabin and spent much of their retirement with visiting friends and family. He also loved to travel with his wife, venturing to many parts of the world in retirement.

His family noted that, "Carl was, first and foremost, a loving family man. He cherished the time he could spend with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. He also loved spending time with friends, and he had a wonderful sense of humor."

After being diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer's disease, Carl and Leona made the difficult decision in 2008 to leave Anchorage for Albuquerque, where he lived for the remainder of his life.

Carl is survived by his wife, Leona Tyner; son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Katherine Tyner of Albuquerque; son and daughter-in-law, Brett and Kelly Tyner of Anchorage; grandchildren, Kelley McAllister and her husband Russ, Ryan Tyner and his wife, Joey, and Ashley, Heather and Allison Tyner; and great-grandchild Eryn McAllister.

Carl was preceded in death by his son, Mark Tyner, and brother, James Tyner.

In lieu of flowers, Carl's family asks that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Alzheimer's Association.

A celebration of Carl's life will be scheduled in Cooper Landing for summer 2011.