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John Cronkhite Obituary
Lieutenant Col. John Lyle Cronkhite Sr., USAF (Ret), age 92 of San Antonio, died Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Lt. Col. Cronkhite was a native of Battle Creek Michigan, but was reared in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was a son of the late John Fisher and Kate L. Sackrider Cronkhite. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Isabel Overhuel and Valerie Sears; and one brother, Arden W. Cronkhite. Lt. Col. Cronkhite served in the USAF in World War II and Korean War. He retired after 26 years of service in 1967 and worked for the 1968 Hemisfair and City of San Antonio Health Department. Lt. Col. Cronkhite was a pilot of the B17, Flying Fortress, "Thunderbird" whose exploits are believed to have inspired the song "Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer". A chapter of Ernie Pyle's Here is your War is devoted to the heroic actions of Col. Cronkhite and his crew in North Africa in WWII. Survivors include his beloved wife of 66 years, Adelina Gibson Elmore Cronkhite of San Antonio; daughters, Elizabeth Laudieri of Dayton, Ohio and Katherine Freeman of Elizabethton, Tennessee; sons, John L. Cronkhite, Jr. of Pharr, TX, Thomas A. Cronkhite of Oaxaca, Mexico, and Jerry Cronkhite of Seattle, Washington. He had 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Visitation will be on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Porter Loring on McCullough.
GRAVESIDE SERVICE
WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY 8, 2012
10:00 A.M.
FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS
Major Philip A. Kost officiating.
You are invited to sign
The guestbook at
www.porterloring.com
Arrangements with
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Cronkhite
4 Entries
edith burgess
January 30, 2020
Happy Birthday Mr. Cronkhite. I think your birthday was the last day of January, I may be wrong.
Wow new decade for you to tour. You would enjoy all the changes and challenges coming about. You are remembered as a true American hero. Your adding to the stars of heaven is just another way you contributed to the peace and beauty of America. We need mote proud Americans to keep us great. Thanks.
edith burgess
February 13, 2019
DID TAXES FOR MR AND MRS. CRONKHITE. LOVED THEM BOTH. HE WAS SUCH A STORY TELLER., AN ART THIS IS BEING LOST. WE WOULD VISIT AND HAVE GREAT CONVERSATIONS OVER A PILL OF TAX DOCUMENTS, TAKES A GOOD MAN TO OVER COME THAT GLOOM. WHAT A GREAT AMERICAN, FAMILY MAN AND HUSBAND . IT IS OUR LOSS WHEN YOU LEFT OUR COMPANY.
GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY.
EDITH & BILL BURGESS
February 7, 2012
My Condolences to the Cronkhite family. Thom, I hope that you are comforted in the fact that you had a dad that was an hero, whom I thought of often. Roland Cisneros (San Antonio,Texas)
Edith & Bill Burgess
February 7, 2012
We have lost a hero, a great American and a great man. And I have lost a friend. Heaven scored a "hit" while Earth sways under the loss of a gentle man. Ernie Pyle is perhaps finishing that WWII interview in the North Africa theater.
May God bless the family of John Cronhkite and give you comfort in this difficult time.
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