William Allen Studer

From the Bentwaters Cold War Museum in the UK we offer our sincere condolences for your loss. Gen Studer was the commander of the 81st TFW at RAF Bentwaters and we wish to remember and honour all those who served in the USAF in England.

I was an egress specialist at RAF Alconbury in the early eighties. It was a freezing day in January when we had a redball for an F-5E with no inflated canopy seal. As I approached the aircraft I could see it was Colonel Studer. I saw the seal hose had become disconnected and it was a simple fix. He immediately asked me where my gloves were. I said it was a redball and left them at the shop. He told me in this weather always wear your gloves. Your more important than a sortie. An amazing man. He will be missed.

Thanks, General, for taking care of my family and I in England. Dave & Nancy Burke

So very sorry to hear. Will certainly remember his smile and no nonsense ways. Excellent Commander

Sorry for your loss Shannon. I remember him from my days at Alconbury seeing him and your mother on their nightly walks.
He definitely was a great leader and family man. RIP, and prayers to you and the family during this difficult time.
- bernie fernandez, Columbus, Ohio

Ms Donna, my deepest sympathy to you and the family on the passing of General Studer. He and I first crossed paths when he was a fighter squadron commander at Ramstein. A few years later, I was on his public affairs staff when he was the vice commander and later commander of the 10th TRW at RAF Alconbury. Years later, our pathes crossed yet again when I was deployed to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and he came through on a inspection tour. We had a few minutes to chat, I was able to catch him up on my career since Alconbury and he was really pleased to see MSgt stripes in my arms (I was a SSgt most of our time together at Alconbury. He was a joy to work for! I'm very sad to hear of his passing.

Dear Donna, Gary and I send our sincere sympathy to you and your family. Your dear husband always had a smile on his face at Maggie Valley Golf Club. And warm words of Welcome for everyone. He will be missed.
❤ Susan & Gary Clarke

So sorry for your loss, Donna. You and your family are in our thoughts.

It was a pleasure and an honor to have served with General William "Willie" Studer at U.S. Central Command during the period 1992-1994. It was my good fortune to have maintained occasional contact with "Willie" and Donna over the years. I will always treasure memories of what were -- even in the context of US Central Command -- tough times, in the aftermath of DS/DS. Here is a short story I hope will put General Studer in the right light. I was the senior intelligence officer -- the J-2 -- for CENTCOM. Willie was my partner, the senior operations officer -- J-3. Together we made a team of intel and ops and much of what CENTCOM was doing in the Middle East and in Africa was part of our daily mix of duties and responsibilities. Most of what we were involved with was CLASSIFIED -- and in my case some of what I did was so highly classified -- compartmented -- that I could not share it with others, even my operational partrner. An event happened -- still clasified to this day -- which I knew about in great detail and which I had not told my partner, Willie Studer, about. General Studer found out about this. He came to my office, with his strong chin jutting forward and a red face, sat down opposite my desk, and said (something like): Hughes, you Son of a *****, here is the way this has to work. I'm a fighter pilot -- right?" I nodded. He said, "If you want me in on the landing I have to be in on the take-off. Do you get me Hughes?" I nodded. He got up an left. It was a lesson I never forgot, and against several policies, I always made sure my operational counterpart knew what they needed to know -- especially Willie Studer.

When I was selected for promotion to Major General, I was sound asleep at home on McDill AFB. There was a knock on the door and in comes Major General William Studer, USAF, to congratulate me and pin two USAF stars on my bathrobe -- despite his misgivings, he said -- and that too I will never forget. He was a fine man, a superb US Air Force general, and a good friend over the years. Condolences to Donna and his family for this very sad loss. Thank you Willie -- and I'll see you at the next rally point. Montana 6 out.

Donna & Family, We loved our time with Willie. He always put others first before himself. Willies smile was an outside picture of his heart. He was strong in his faith and he so loved his family. We are so sorry for the loss of your husband and father. May God hold you and comfort you as you grieve the passing of the love of your life.
With our sincere sympathy,
Larry & Linda Flahardy

Our prayers and thoughts to Donna and the family.

Our deepest sympathy to the family of a real gentleman, wonderful friend, and true patriot.