Colonel Gerald E. VanVleet

ROMULUS - Colonel (retired) Gerald E. VanVleet, age 87, of East Lake Road in Romulus and Leesburg, Fla., died unexpectedly on Monday, May 2, 2011.
As his family gathers later this summer, a celebration of Gerald's life will be held at the family home on East Lake Road. His military career and patriotism will be commemorated by interment of his remains in Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the National WWII Museum, 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, La., 70130 or the Ovid Union Cemetery, PO Box 175, Ovid, N.Y. 14521 in Gerald's memory.
Gerald was born in the town of Romulus on October 15, 1923, the only son of the late Edward A. and Ruth (Engel) VanVleet. He resided with his family in Albion, N.Y. until he joined the US Air Force in 1942, He piloted many B-26 Bomber missions in the European Theatre, and became a career military officer. He was stationed in Japan, Korea, France and throughout the United States, he had worked at the Pentagon for a number of years, and in 1972, retired from Eglin AFB in Florida. In his early retirement, he taught real estate classes and worked as a realtor. He lived throughout many areas of Florida, and summered in New York for the past 18 years.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Diana; his children, Gereen (David) Preston of Mequon, Wis. and Edward "Ted" (Kathy) VanVleet of St. Petersburg, Fla.; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Dorothy VanVleet Hicks of Romulus and State College, Penn.; and Diana's daughter, Marsha (John) Biguenet of New Orleans, La..
Arrangements are under the direction of Covert Funeral Home of Ovid, call 1-877-828-3411 or visit www.covertfuneralhome.com for additional information.