Joseph Claude "Moosie" Dortch

1958 - 2014

Joseph Claude Dortch (Moosie), a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, died Friday, Oct. 24, 2014.

Joe was the fourth-oldest of 12 children born to Mrs. Catherine Dortch of Crestview and the late Rev. Claude Von Dortch. He was the first African-American born in Valparaiso on Jan. 13, 1958.

His father; grandmother, Rose Bud Hunter-Grimes; and aunt, Elizabeth McCurdy, preceded him in death.

Joe attended Okaloosa County public schools and graduated among Crestview High School's top 10 students in 1976. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1981 and received his master's degree from The University of Dayton in 1988 while on tour at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Joe had quite a few firsts in his life. He was the Most Valuable Player on Okaloosa County's first undefeated basketball team. He was Crestview High School's first recipient of the Most Outstanding Student-Athlete Award. Finally in 1976, he was the first Crestview High School student to attend a military service academy.

Joe, very dedicated to his country, was very accomplished and distinguished during his military career.
After graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1981, Joe was sent home to Eglin Air Force Base for his first tour of duty.

He was the F-15 AMRAAM flight test manager until 1985, when he was assigned as the chief of the Quality Assurance Division, Aircraft Modification, 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Patterson. His outfit was responsible for inspecting and accepting all Class II modifications to the wing's 43 aircraft and providing flight release of aircraft back to the Wing Commander after modification approval.

Joe next served as a B-1 B Program Office manufacturing engineer, and was there for all 100 B-1 B bombers' production. He was principally responsible for all manufacturing activity associated with the aircraft's wings.

For the next four years he was assigned to Ballistic Missile Organization at Norton Air Force Base, Calif. He was also deputy program manager for Peacekeeper Rail Garrison Program's basing portion until its termination in 1991 by President Bush.

After retiring, he was Air Force JROTC senior aerospace instructor at Central High School, Prince George's County Public Schools, Capitol Heights, Maryland.

Joe's survivors are his wife of 19 years, Diane Pitts Dortch, Clinton, Md.; son, Justin Dortch, Bessemer, Ala.; mother, Catherine; stepchildren, Derek Law, Miami, Selena Lewis (Chontae), Bowie, Md., and William Lewis (Dalila), Suffolk, Va.
Survivors also include sisters and brothers, Dorothy Jean Phillips, Vivian Dortch, retired chief master sergeant Michael Dortch, Anthony Dortch, and Greta Westbrook (Anthony), Crestview; Angela Dortch, Indianapolis, Ind.; Cynthia Dortch, Phoenix; Paul Dortch (Malissa), Wilmington, Calif.; Linda Lozier (Robert), Douglasville, Ga.; Shirley Coleman (David), Shiloh, Ill.; and Sheila Jones (Andrian), Groveland.

He also leaves six grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were Friday, Oct. 31 at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Crestview, with interment at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola.

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