Percy Reid Staffelbach

May 23, 1920 - Feb. 8, 2013
SOUTH BEND - Percy Reid Staffelbach, 92, passed away on February 8, 2013, from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was born in Palouse, WA, on May 23, 1920, to Percy and Alma Staffelbach. Reid is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Eva; sisters, Barbara Godbolt (Jim) and Donna McDougal (George); sister-in-law, Doris (Jack); daughters, Susan Busk (Stephen) and Linda Swindell (Bill); and sons, Greg (Jill) and Dennis Staffelbach (Alice). He is also survived by his 20 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his younger sister, Charlotte Tracy, sister-in-law, Edna Hansen (Mervin), son-in-law, Bill Swindell, and granddaughter, Tara Staffelbach. Reid graduated from Chico High School, Class of '37, and attended Chico State College for 18 months before making the decision to join the Army in July 1941. He trained to be a weather observer at Chanute Field, IL, and served in that role until 1943. After attaining the rank of Corporal, he requested a transfer to the Army Air Corps to train as a combat pilot. Reid took his initial flight training at Hancock College of Aeronautics in Santa Maria, and received his wings and rating of flight officer at Williams Field, AZ, in January 1943. On the 15th of July, 1943, Reid arrived in Europe and began his service with the 98th Bomb Group of the U.S. 15th Air Force, where he took command of his B-24 Liberator bomber, the "Jack Frost." He flew his first of fifty missions over Foggia, Italy, in August of 1943, and his last on D-Day, over the infamous oil fields of Ploesti, Romania. He lost many B-24 (aka "flying coffin") comrades, but no crewmembers during his service in the European and Mediterranean theatres. Reid returned home in 1944 to train pilots at Ft. Myers, FL, before his honorable discharge at the rank of captain on September 12, 1947. While training in Santa Maria, he met and became engaged to marry Eva Mary Flake, with whom he shared his full life for over 68 years. Together they started a family and built memories that continue to touch lives. His job with Kellogg Sales Company took them and their four children to Hawaii in 1966, where he worked until his retirement in 1980. After Eva's retirement in 1986, they moved to their current residence on Kenilworth Road in South Bend. Reid was a true patriot and hero to his family. He is known by many in the South Bend area as the "Iris Man of Kenilworth Road," where each season he would sell some of his half-acre of iris and hostas at bargain prices to whomever would stop by. To those closest to him, Reid was recognized as the hardest worker and truest gentlemen they knew. Each night at prayer Reid would mention by name all of his 60+ family members. He is, and always will be, deeply missed. A private Mass for Reid was celebrated by the Reverend Kenneth Grabner, C.S.C., on Tuesday, February 13, 2013, at St. Joseph Chapel at the Brotherhood of the Holy Cross. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.McGannHay.com.