Myron Gantt

1935 - 2021

Myron Gantt
May 7, 2021
Lexington, South Carolina - Myron Gantt, 86, (1935) a resident of Lexington, South Carolina, passed away on Friday, May 7, 2021 due to an extended illness.
Myron was preceded in death by his wife, Ilse (Kaiser) originally of Germany. He is survived by his three sons, Stephen, Carl and Michael and their wives, Margaret, Carrie and Karen, along with grandchild, Christina.
Myron was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Loretta Gantt (Ladd) of Arco, Minnesota. His step-father was the late Willie Gantt of Wagener, South Carolina.
Myron graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile, Alabama in June 1953, then in 1955 enrolled in Air Force ROTC at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. After graduating from Colby College in 1958 with a degree in psychology, Myron joined the USAF as a 2d Lieutenant and was assigned to Loring AFB, Maine. While there, he earned his master's degree at the University of New Hampshire and then in June 1959, married Ilse. During their 23-year career in the Air Force, Myron and Ilse were assigned to Lackland AFB Texas, K.I. Sawyer AFB Michigan, Beale AFB California, Norfolk Naval Base Virginia, Korat Royal Thai AFB Thailand, Patrick AFB Florida, and finally Maxwell AFB Alabama, which is where they retired from the Air Force in 1983. Myron served with distinction as a B-52H master navigator, SR-71 reconnaissance systems officer, EB-66 navigator, and wing standardization navigator in chief. He was a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, and attended and instructed at the USAF Air War College. During his career, Myron flew 103 combat missions in Southeast Asia and was the recipient of the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Myron and Ilse settled in Lexington, South Carolina in 1986 where Myron worked as a data technology specialist at Gilbert High School in Gilbert, South Carolina. In his retirement years, Myron enjoyed teaching adults in Sunday school, serving as the team score keeper and #1 fan of his granddaughter's travel softball team, and touring the country in his motorhome.
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