Benjamin S. Catlin III

CATLIN, BENJAMIN SHIELDS III

Retired Col. Benjamin S. Catlin III died peacefully on October 17, 2003, with his children by his side. Born October 7, 1923, in San Francisco to Benjamin S. Catlin Jr. and Mildred Olsen. He attended Tulane University and was quarterback of the football team until he joined the Army Air Corps. He graduated from George Washington University and earned his masters at the University of Maryland. He served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force for 32 years. A World War II B-24 and B-29 pilot, he later served in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, flying 169 combat missions. During the Cuban missile crisis he was Deputy Commander, 7th Tactical Airlift Wing preparing for military action. In Vietnam, he commanded the No. 1 Air Force Advisory Team, a special operations unit. In addition, he worked in various classified capacities. He served as the Executive to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve and Commander of the Air Reserve Personnel Center. After retiring from active duty, he was the Air Force Director for the Reserve Officers Association and Director of Congressional Affairs for the Air Force Association in Washington, D.C. In 1989, he retired to his home in the Shenandoah Valley. He is preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Jalle Berry Catlin, and is survived by his four children, Benjamin S. Catlin IV of Sacramento, CA, Betsy Anderson and Berry Catlin of Sarasota, FL, Barbara Catlin of Dallas, TX; his sister, Emmy Lou Miller of Victoria, TX and 6 grandchildren. He was a member of the Rotary Club, the Order of Daedalians and First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota. His hobbies were hiking, traveling, and restoring classic sports cars. A private family memorial was held October 20 at sunset on Siesta Key Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ben and Jalle Catlin Memorial Foundation, c/o Sacramento Region Community Foundation, 555 Capitol Mall, Suite 550, Sacramento, CA 95814.