William Earl Countryman

1934 - 2024

William Earl Countryman

March 22, 1934 - July 10, 2024

Las Vegas, Nevada - Lt. Col. Earl Countryman, USAF Retired.

Earl was born in Oroville, Ca on March 22, 1934 and died on July 10, 2024 at the age of 90. His father died in an accident in 1942 when he was 8 years old. His mother Mildred and his brother and sister moved to Sacramento, Ca in 1945 where he attended school and graduated from Sacramento High School in 1951. He joined the Air Force after completing two years at Sac City College. Earl loved flying and had his goal set on being a fighter pilot.

He joined the United States Air Force as an Airman Basic, then entered the Aviation Cadet program, getting commissioned as a 2nd Lt. and eventually becoming Quadruple Rated as a Command Pilot and radar/bombardier/navigator.

He returned to college and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1967 with a B.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering, followed later by a M.S. Degree from Nova University. Lt. Col. Countryman flew 255 combat missions over Viet Nam and served as a Test Pilot flying both engineering and production test missions in the F-86F, F-100, F-106 and the F-104 with the powerful -19 engine. His total flying time was 5,000+ hours. over 4,000hours in high performance single engine fighter aircraft.

His last AF assignment was as a USAF representative at the Fairchild Republic factory in NY where the "new" A-IO was being designed and manufactured.

Upon retirement he moved to Newport RI and worked for EG&G at the Naval Underwater Systems Center and sailed an O'Day 27 for 3 years.

He moved to Florida where he taught physics and math for 13 1/2 years in Charlotte County at Port Charlotte High School. He also continued sailing this time in a Newport 30 until his move to CA where he lived in a hangar home he designed. He flew and owned an RV6 and Alon Aercoupe aircraft. This move brought him closer to his family in CA and WA and he enjoyed many visits with them..

In 2010 he and his wife Rita moved to Las Vegas where he enjoyed the sport of pickleball and the local amenities for seniors.

He is survived by his wife of almost 49 years, Rita and his daughters Cathleen and Kristine of Tacoma, WA and son Keith of Olympia WA. He is also survived by his brother Joseph D. Countryman and many nieces and nephews. Earl was preceded in death by his parents Mildred and Joseph, son Craig Countryman and sister Ramona Heidenreich.