Colonel Carol M. McCleary USAF Ret.

Colonel Carol M. McCleary, US Air Force, Ret., age 74, passed away July 22, 2006, in San Antonio, Texas. She was born March 12, 1932, in Salem, Oregon, daughter of the late Elgin L. and Edna Abbott McCleary. Carol attended Oregon State College and was a Delta Gamma Sorority member. In 1955, she graduated from Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing, Portland, OR, and in 1957, earned a B.S. degree in teaching and supervision from The University of Oregon. She was a head nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital and a 4 year clinical instructor for their school of nursing and was commissioned as a Captain of the US Air Force Nurse Corps in 1962. She went on to the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, and earned a M.N. degree in nursing administration in 1967. She was a graduate of the Flight Nurse Course, Industrial College of the Armed Forced and Air War College. Rapid promotions to Major, Lt. Colonel and Colonel in less than 11 years occurred, earlier than any previous Nurse Corps Officer. Col. McCleary held charge nurse positions, was a faculty member at the USAF School of Health Care Sciences, followed by executive management positions as Chairman, Department of Nursing, USAF Medical Center, then was Command Nurse, HQ US Air Forces in Europe, Command Nurse, HQ Air Force Systems Command and Director of Nursing, HQ Air Training Command, retiring in San Antonio, TX in 1988. Throughout her career she created and presented many leadership and executive management programs for nursing personnel assigned to Air Force Health Care organizations. Major decorations were the Legion of Merit, 2 OLC, Meritorious Service Medal, 3 OLC and Air Force Commendation Medal, 1 OLC. Col. McCleary is survived by her sister, Mary Ellen Fleck and husband, Roger of Beaverton, OR; brother, Lt. Col. William D. McCleary, US Army, Ret. and wife, Kay of Sierra Vista, AZ; two nieces, nephews and their children. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Society of Air Force Nurses, Inc., PO Box 682026, San Antonio, TX 78268; Make a Wish Foundation, Gift Processing Center, PO Box 97104, Washington, DC 20090-7104 or a charity of your choice.