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William Allen Studer

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William Studer Obituary

STUDER, Major General William Allen USAF (Ret.)

Retired USAF Major General William Allen Studer died of pulmonary fibrosis, Saturday, January 26, 2019 at his home in Tampa, FL. He was 79. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Donna Bray Miskowski Studer; son, Scott (Elizabeth) Studer; daughter, Shannon Studer (Marty) Martinez; two sisters, Sharon Studer (Bruce) Jewell, and Marion Studer (Neal) Carmickle; and grandchildren, Seth (Lauren) Studer, Sam Studer, Blake Studer, Parker Martinez, and Mindy Martinez. Bill was born in Chicage, IL, in 1939 to William and Annette Studer. The family moved to Ringgold, GA, in 1941, Darien, GA, in 1945, and ultimately to Atlanta, GA, in 1949, where Bill graduated from Southwest High School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Georgia Institute of Technology. He later attended Troy State University, earning two Master of Science degrees. Bill entered the Air Force in 1961 as a graduate of Georgia Tech's Reserve Officer Training program. Over the course of his 33 year career, he commanded at the squadron, wing, division, and numbered air force levels. He was a command pilot with more than 5000 flying hours in fighter, transport, and attack aircraft, and more than a thousand combat hours in Vietnam. Bill's last assignments were Commander, 13th Air Force, Clark Air Force Base, Philippines (1990-1991), Commander, Joint Task Force Fiery Vigil, Philippines, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo and subsequent evacuation of 25,000 cilivians and military (1991), and then finally Director of Operations, US Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, FL (1992-1994). Over the course of his military career, he was awarded the Joint Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 35 oak leaf clusters, Philippine Legion of Honor, and Philippine Bronze Cross. After retiring from the Air Force, Bill became the Director of Public Safety, Hillsborough County in Tampa, FL (1994-2005). He was an Emergency Preparedness Consultant from 2005 to the present. Bill enjoyed golf, reading, hiking, and attending as many of his grandchildren's activities as possible. He is remembered for his ready smile, sense of humor, intense desire to help others, and his ability to make people feel at ease. He has served his church in various capacities, from the Building Committee to greeting people at the church doors before services. He has been on the Advisory Board of Salvation Army, Tampa, and he had membership in the Order of Daedalians, the Quiet Birdmen, Command Bar Stool Association, Air Force Association, Georgia Tech Alumni Association, TYCC, Maggie Valley Club, NC, Tampa Rotary Club, and Hyde Park UMC. Bill's favorite charity was the Ronald McDonald House, which friends are encouraged to support. The memorial service will be February 8 at 11 am at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, FL.

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Published by Tampa Bay Times on Feb. 3, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for William Studer

13 Entries

Simon Gladas Bentwaters Cold War Museum

February 11, 2019

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.

February 10, 2019

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.

David Burke

February 9, 2019

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

Fishback's

February 8, 2019

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

February 8, 2019

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

Al Eakle

February 8, 2019

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.

robert cyphert

Sent Flowers

Clarke

February 4, 2019

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

Patti Denson

February 4, 2019

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

LTG Patrick <. Hughes, USA (Ret)

February 3, 2019

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.

Larry & Linda Flahardy

January 30, 2019

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

Mike and Sue Shirley

January 29, 2019

Our prayers and thoughts to Donna and the family.

Tom Raffo

January 28, 2019

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

Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results