Wayne T. Frye

Wayne T Frye, 83, of Manchester, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014 at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington. He was born in Trinity, Ky. on Nov. 6, 1930 to the late Clive and Jane (Tully) Frye.

After graduating from Manchester High School in 1948 he joined the Marines where he was given the opportunity to attend the Navel Academy Preschool. He went on to the Navel Academy in Annapolis. It was during that time he became a member of the "Great Eight" , the 1952 Olympic Gold Medal winning Men's Coxed Eights Rowing team.

After graduating in 1954, he joined the newly formed Air Force. After serving at Niagara Falls and Andrews Air Force Base he attended MIT where he earned his MS. Following graduation he taught at the US Air Force Academy and in 1964 he attended and then became an instructor at the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School. Wayne served in Vietnam at Cameron Bay in 1968 where commanded the 555th Squadron, better know as the Triple Nichol Squadron. During that time he flew 266 combat missions, received two Silver Stars, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, 15 Air Medals and a Purple Heart.

He retired as a Colonel from the US Air Force in 1974 after serving 22 years. He was a former employee of Sunstrand, Continental Airline, Leach Corp, and taught at the Maysville Community College. He was inducted into the US Naval Aviation Hall of Fame in 2012. He was a member of the US Naval Academy Alumni Association and belonged to the Bentonville Community Church.

He is survived by his wife: Glenda (Lawrence) Frye of Manchester; his children: Jeff (Shari) Frye of Long Beach, Calif., Jon Frye of Oceanside, Calif., Julie (Greg) Haynie of Corona, Calif. and Wayne (Chip) T Frye, Jr of Costa Masa,, Calif.; his step children: Michael (Rosa) Tracy of Maysville, Ky., Julie (Danny) Allen of Maysville, Ky. and Brad Johnson of San Francisco, Calif.; his grandchildren, Blake Frye, Clayton Frye, Sierra Frye, Brittany Haynie, Joshua Haynie; step grandchildren, Joseph Tracy, Benjamin Tracy, Jacob Henderson, Corey Henderson, Tyler Allen, Whitney Allen, and great grandson Jaxon Henderson.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 1 at the Manchester High School located on Wayne Frye Drive, in Manchester. Rev John Greenlee officiated. Burial followed at the Manchester Cemetery. Military graveside services will be provided by the Adams County Honor Guard. Visitation was be held Friday, Feb. 28 from 5-8 p.m.at the High School.