Col. Linus F. UPSON Jr.

UPSON, Col. Linus F. Jr. USAF (Ret.) Passed away on May 2, 2014. He grew up in Tampa, and graduated from the University of Tampa with a B.S. degree in 1941. He enlisted as a flying cadet in 1941 and was commissioned & awarded his pilot's wings in April 1942. He flew 150 combat missions in the China-Burma-India Theater (C.B.-I.) of World War II and later in Korea during that 'Police Action'. Col. Upson was a command pilot and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with cluster, Air Medal with two clusters, and the Bronze Star medal. He married Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Standau, also of Tampa, in 1942 and they have four children: Linus lll, Elaine Brestel, Michael Upson, and Kim Bidermann. Linus retired from the Air Force in 1966, settled in Northridge, CA and started a second career with Hughes Aircraft Company. When his wife, Betty, passed away in 2009, he moved to San Diego where he lived until his passing. He will be interred with his wife at Arlington National Cemetery later this year. In addition to his children, he leaves eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He was a kind and gentle man beloved by family and friends.