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Lt. Colonel Carl Ben Cheaney USAF Ret., outstanding U.S. Air Force officer, highly qualified pilot, dedicated community volunteer, loving husband and wonderful father, devoted family member, and faithful friend entered into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 8, 2004. Ben Cheaney was born December 3, 1924 in Coleman, Texas to Carl B. and Audrey L. Cheaney of Gouldbusk, Texas, where he spent his early years. He graduated from Mozelle High School in 1942. Cheaney then attended, what was known as North Texas Agricultural College, in Arlington, Texas prior to entering the military during World War II. In 1944 Cheaney joined the U. S. Army Air Corps and successfully completed pilot training. He was then assigned as a B-17 co-pilot and flew a number of missions over Nazi Germany. After the end of the war he separated from the Air Corps and returned to college. Cheaney attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos where he graduated in 1949 and later completed his Masters Degree in 1952. After he obtained his Bachelors Degree, he taught school in Pearsall and in the Alamo Heights School District in San Antonio. In 1954 he joined the 433rd Alamo Wing reserve unit at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, where he served as a pilot flying a variety of aircraft. In 1959 Cheaney became a full-time Air Reserve Technician with responsibilities as both civil service employee and active reservist with primary duties as Wing Training Officer. During the early 1960s the 433rd moved to Kelly Air Force Base and Cheaney assumed a wide variety of functions as a senior pilot including check-pilot, instructor, and standardization officer while flying such aircraft as the C-119 and the C-124. In 1968 the 921st Military Airlift Group of the Alamo Wing was called to active duty for 16 months during the Vietnam Conflict. During this period he and other group members flew C-124s all over the world carrying troops and equipment. Following the active duty tour, Cheaney returned to Air Reserve Technician status and served as a senior pilot and instructor flying C-130 aircraft for a number of years. During his military career he attained the rank of Lt. Colonel and accomplished some 6000 hours of flying time. In 1979 he became a Civil Service C-130 Simulator Instructor at Kelly AFB where he remained until his retirement from government service in 1985. Cheaneys San Antonio community involvement included support of the Alamo Wings 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2001 plus numerous reunions, participating for some six years in a local Friday Morning Coffee Group, recognition as an Air Force Living Legend by the Air Force News Center, and volunteer for the Glenn Oaks and Arnold Elementary Schools. His principal hobby in recent years was playing golf, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Ben Cheaney is survived by his loving wife Alice of San Antonio, his sisters Billye Banner of Gordonville, Texas & Nancy Lindsay of Hurst, Texas, a son Carl Cheaney & daughter Ellen Brown, both of Houston. Other family members include step-children Ron Bento of San Antonio & Sylvia Frye and husband Dennis Frye of Sharpsburg, Maryland, sisters-in-law Dorris Jean Cheaney of San Angelo & Minnie Guardiola of San Antonio, and brother-in-law Fernando Fuentes of San Antonio. Six grandchildren and eleven nieces & nephews are also numbered among the family survivors. Services The family will receive friends on Wednesday, October 13, from 5 to 8 pm. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 am on Thursday, October 14 by the Reverend Charlie Johnson, Pastor of San Antonios Trinity Baptist Church. Both of these services will take place at Mission Park North Funeral Chapel located at 3401 Cherry Ridge. Internment will be in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Flowers may be sent or, for those who desire, donations may be mailed to the Happy Hill Farm Childrens Home, 3846 North Highway 144, Granbury, Texas 76048.

Tributes

Lt. Col. Carl Ben Cheaney

December 3, 1924 - October 8, 2004