WAYNE MARCELLUS BEUMELER,
COLONEL USAF,(Ret)

Wayne Marcellus Beumeler, Colonel USAF (Ret) passed away on Sunday, November 18, 2007 in his home. Colonel Beumeler was born near Newkirk, Okla., on 28 Nov. 1916. He graduated from Ochelata High School, Ochelata, Okla. in 1935. He attended 3 years at Oklahoma A&M Conege, Stillwater, Okla., enlisting in the Army as an Aviation Cadet in Sept. 1939. He took primary pilot training at Tuscaloosa, Ala., basic pilot training at Gunter Field in Montgomery, Ala. and advanced pilot training at Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Ala.

Upon graduation April 1941 he was assigned back to Gunter Field where he spent the better part of the next 3 years training cadets in the 8T-13, as a Flight Instructor, Flight Commander and Sqdn. Opns. Officer. He was assigned Dec. 1943 as a student to B-24 Transition Training, Smyrna MB, Tennessee. A month later he was engaged in RTU B-24 Bomb Training from mid Jan.1944 to mid April, part of a 10-man crew, in the California Desert, Blythe MB, California.

22 April 1944 he and his crew were assigned to the 8th Air Force, England and shipped overseas. Upon arrival in England, (then Capt.) Beumeler was individually assigned to the 93rd Bomb Group. He flew 24 combat missions including 2 Squadron Leads, 4 Group Leads, 3 Division Leads and 1 Air Force Lead while serving as 409th Bomb Squadron B-24 Pilot, 328th Squadron Operations Officer, 328th Squadron Commander and 93rd Bomb Group Operations Officer. Promotion to Major came 2 Sept. 1944; and to Lt. Colonel, 19 February 1945. He returned to the ZI and leave May 1945.

24 August 1945, he was assigned Assistant Director of Training & Operations, Tyndall Field, Florida. Two months later he was assigned Director of Administration & Services and conducted the demobilization and discharge of Airmen leaving the Service and Tyndall Field.

Subsequent to WWII, he held the following positions: Assistant Director of Installations and Chief Installations Engineering Division, Okinawa, Deputy Chief, Air Installations Division, Washington, DC, Deputy Commander and Commander, 1607 ABG, Dover AFB, Delaware, Chief/Missiles and Special Installations Branch, Logistics Division, SHAPE, Paris, France, DCS/Civil Engineering, Warner Robbins AFB, Georgia, DCS/Civil Engineering, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Spec. Asst to Commander, Tyndall AFB, Sqdn Comdr, 4756 Civil Engineering Sqdn., Tyndall AFB. On January 1, 1970 he retired from the USAF.

He received the following decorations and service awards: Legion of Merit (CONAC) – with Oak Leaf Cluster (AAC), Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal with 1 Silver Service Star and 6 Bronze Battle Stars with 2 O/S Bars, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Korean Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with 6 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters and the United Nations Service Medal. He was a member of the Lynn Haven Rotary Club, Friends of Library, Officer's Club and the St. Dominic's Roman Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Fleming Beumeler, five children, Mark Beumeler and his wife, Marilyn, of Cary, NC, Robert Beumeler of Dallas, TX, Patricia Ann Goldberg, of Mesquite, TX, Laura Wick and her husband, Michael, of Valrico, FL and Teresa Beumeler of Cary, NC and four grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at St. Dominic's Roman Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery with full military honors conducted at the graveside. The family will receive friends at the church from 9 – 9:45 a.m. prior to the service. Those desiring may make memorial donations to Covenant Hospice, 107 W 19th Street, Panama City, FL 32405 or to the Bay County Library in memory of Wayne Beumeler.

Wilson Funeral Home