Colonel
Ronald B. Dorcy USAF, retired, was born on December
11. 1938, to Bernadette (Bayer) and Roger J. Dorcy
in Butler, Pennsylvania and peacefully entered eternal life February 22, 2012
on the morning of Ash Wednesday with his wife, Jean, family, and Lake
Superior Hospice at his side.
Ron enjoyed sharing his early memories of his Bayer grandparent's farm where
he enjoyed many meals prepared by his grandmother for numerous uncles and
cousins. His Irish Dorcy grandparents also played
an
important role in forming him as a person of integrity.
After High School, Ron, worked at Armco Steel Mill in Butler as well as the
Hot Dog Shop (more happy memories) before he attended the University of
Pittsburgh.
Ron enlisted in the Air Force in February 1959 and his first assignment after
basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas and Biloxi, Mississippi
was at K.I. Sawyer AFB - arriving on December 11, 1959 - his 21st birthday.
He helped maintain radio, radar and data link systems on the F-101B's as well
as T-33's and C-47's.
He met his future wife Jean (Pohjonen) while
stationed at Sawyer and they were married in June 1961 at St. Christopher's
Church in Marquette. Ron was accepted to the last class of Officer Candidate School
(OCS) at Lackland and graduated in 1963 as a 2nd
Lieutenant. Pilot training followed
with assignment to Forbes AFB, Kansas as a C-130 pilot. Evreaux
Air Base, France was a temporary assignment from Forbes which included
flights to Baghdad, Iraq; Athens, Greece; Turkey; Libya; Spain; Italy; West
Germany; Berlin and Portugal.
Ron's next assignment was a year- long tour to Mactan
Island in the southern Philippines, which included flights into Vietnam,
Thailand, Loas and Cambodia.
The family rejoined Ron for his following assignment to Langley AFB, for
their longest tour--seven years. Portions of this time saw Ron in Japan and
back to Vietnam for another 5 months. After many tdys,
Ron
looked forward to being home more often as an instructor pilot and Flight
Examiner---this was not to be the case since 3 month TDYs to Europe became
the norm. Support for the Gemini and Apollo space missions included stays at
Mauritius Island in the Indian Ocean.
Promotion to Major brought a move to Austin, TX (Bergstrom AFB) as a part of
aircrew standardization for 12th Air Force C-130 crews as well Air National
Guard and Reserve units west of the Mississippi.
A change from Tactical Air Command to Military Airlift Command for all C-130s
included another move - to McGuire AFB, New Jersey. Promotion to Lieutenant
Colonel brought the family to Abilene, Texas (Dyess
Air Force Base) where Ron enjoyed his duties as Chief Pilot and then as Squadron
Operations Officer for a squadron in England (another 3 month TDY tour).
Shortly after his return to Texas Ron had orders to report to Alaska as the
C-130 17 Tactical Airlift Squadron Commander in June 1981. This was another
interesting tour for the entire family for a much too short time since Ron
was promoted to Colonel and given an assignment at Travis AFB, California,
home of the Military Airlift Command's 22nd Air Force. Ron's new assignment
was Director of Command and Control - watchdog for all 22nd Air Force
departing the west coast going north, east, south or west. After a short
change in jobs at Travis as Deputy Director of Operations, Ron was told his
next tour would be at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas as the Vice Wing Commander.
This was followed by returning to Langley AFB, Virginia as liaison for Headquarters
Military Airlift Command to Tactical Air Command and the Army's Training and
Doctrine Center (TRADOC) at Fort Monroe near Langley. Senior officers and
their wives from all over the world were a part of this group which was a
rewarding experience.
Ron's final assignment was back in the Midwest at Scott AFB, Illinois in 1988
as the Deputy Inspector General for MAC (Military Airlift Command) - a tour
he enjoyed since he was able to fly the C-130 once again as well as perform
his assigned duties.
Retirement came in 1991, the same year Nadeen
finished high school in Illinois. Returning to Marquette with parish
involvement beginning at St Peter Cathedral followed by a move to St Louis
the King Parish brought years of forming fond memories. Ron and Jean were
involved in various activities at St Louis and their shared love of the
rosary led to them making rosaries together which have been enjoyed by many.
Ron was especially adept in creating beautiful Ladder Rosaries. A move to the
cottage Jean's father had built at Engman Lake
which Ron added to, made living at the lake more
comfortable although challenging during the winter months. He especially
loved summers living on the shore of Engman Lake
and spending time on his pontoon boat with the radio playing music and
watching for the eagles and loons nearby. He enjoyed the song birds which
would sometimes follow him, perch on his shoulder and eat their seeds from
his hand.
Ron enjoyed
all sports, but especially the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates and the
University of Pittsburgh sports programs. He loved people and enjoyed seeing
visitors as he became more ill and certainly loved his family who miss him
beyond words. His is a marvelous example of what a husband, father and
grandfather should be.
Ron was a member of the Order of Daedalians, the
Air Force Association, the Airlift Association, and the Knights of Columbus
St Louis the King Council 6447 as well as the 4th Degree Bishop Fredric Baraga,
the Snowshoe Priest ASM 469.
He is survived by his wife, Jean (Pohjonen) Dorcy and 6 children:
Shawn (Cynthia) Dorcy, Brian (Molly) Dorcy, Garth (Beth) Dorcy, Davina (Michael) Self, Neal (Jen) Dorcy,
and Nadeen (David) Laurich.
He was the proud Grandfather to Griffin, Zachary, Logan, and Kylie Dorcy, Kelly and Bryan Gutierrez; Erin Dorcy and Mariah Whitaker-Allen ; Christian and Ian Dorcy; Aaron, Hunter, and Joshua Self; Brendan and Delaney
Rohlfs; Matthew and Dawson Laurich.
Also surviving is his sister-in-law, Margaret Dorcy
as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents,
Roger and Bernadette Dorcy, his step-father Saady Hamder, his father-in-law
Eugene Pohjonen, his mother-in-law Lillian Pohjonen, an infant son Patrick Dorcy
and his brother, Roger Joseph Dorcy.
Words can never express the gratitude the family has for the care provided by
Doctors Doughty and Curran, and Mick Kreis PC once
the diagnosis of colon cancer was made in November. They and Lake Superior
Hospice as well as the many friends praying for the entire family made this
part of Ron's journey a bit easier to bear with the presence of God's grace.
Visitation will be Tuesday February 28th from 11 am
until 1 pm which will include praying the rosary at St Louis the King Parish.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Father Benedetto
J. Paris on Tuesday at 1pm in the church with Deacons Warren Vonck, Gregg St. John and David Adler assisting. Lunch
will follow in the Gauthier Hall at St Louis the King Parish.
Members of Bishop Frederic Baraga the Snowshoe Priest Assembly Fourth Degree
Knights of Columbus will serve as honor guard and pallbearers.
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