Lt. Col. Jeffrey Paul Dishart USAF, Ret.

1957 - 2015

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Paul Dishart, USAF, Ret., age 58, a resident of Maurertown, VA passed away Saturday, June 13, 2015 at the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV.

Jeff was born in Pittsburgh, PA on May 7, 1957 the 4th son of the late Urban Edward and Theresa Genevieve Napier Dishart, Jr.

Jeff graduated from Penn Hills High School in 1975. He attended the University of Colorado and West Virginia University graduating with honors in 1979 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the USAF, receiving the Vice Commandants Award in Training. He completed USAF Pilot Training as a distinguished graduate and received the first F-16 assignment at Vance Air Force Base, OK receiving numerous awards, medals and decorations for performance including Top Gun of the 80th Fighter Squadron of Kunsan Korea and 2nd place in the annual completion at the 56th Fighter Wing for aerial gunnery.

Upon his separation for the Active Duty Air Force in 1987 Jeff served with Pan American World Airways in Berlin Germany and was present in Berlin to witness the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989. After Pan Am dissolved in 1991, he joined the New York Air National Guard as a F-16 Air Defense Pilot and was hired by United Airlines shortly thereafter in 1992. During his tour with the New York Air National Guard, he flew combat missions in the supports of efforts to rescue a downed pilot in Bosnia and is mentioned by Captain Scott O'Grady in his published book.

After transferring to the Vermont Air National Guard, he flew operational missions in support of counter drug efforts in Central America, and after his Air National Guard Career, Jeff was asked to return to the Air Force Reserve and accepted an offer for a position with the Pentagon assisting the then Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. Jeff was concurrently employed full time in his civilian life as a 747 Pilot for United Airlines.

Jeff left the Government in 2007 to pursue opportunities in the private sector. He was a member of the St. John Bosco Roman Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, Father Cyril Karlowicz Council No 9002 in Woodstock, VA. He loved raising and training horses on their farm, scuba diving and riding his Harley.

He is survived by his loving wife, LeAnn Dishart; and his beloved daughter, Ellie Ann Dishart.

A funeral Mass for Mr. Dishart will be conducted at 10:30 AM Thursday, June 18, 2015 at the St. John Bosco Roman Catholic Church, Woodstock, VA with Father Michael Dobbins officiating.

Members of the Knights of Columbus, Father Cyril Karlowicz Council No. 9002 will serve as pallbearers.

Mr. Dishart will be laid to rest with full military honors at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6-8 PM at the Knights of Columbus Hanley Hall located adjacent to the St. John Bosco Church in Woodstock, VA.

Expressions of sympathy may be in the form of memorial contributions to St. John Bosco Catholic Church, 315 N. Main Street, Woodstock, VA 22664 or Alzheimerás Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th fl., New York, NY 10001.

You may sign the guest book online at www.stoverfuneralhome.com

Stover Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Strasburg, VA is serving the family of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Paul Dishart.

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