Halteman, William O., Lt Col

Lieutenant Colonel William O. Halteman, USAF (Ret.), 80, a resident of Kingsmill since May 1992, died on April 29, 2011 at his home.

Bill was born on March 18, 1931, in Bethlehem, PA. He was the son of the late Clemence W. Halteman, Sr. and Marjorie B. Halteman. Bill was preceded in death by his older brother, Second Lieutenant Clemence W. Halteman, Jr., a B-29 pilot, killed in action on Guam, May 11, 1945; and older sister, Dolores L. Carril, of Princeton, NJ.

After graduating from Bethlehem Technical High School in 1948, Colonel Halteman attended Parks College of Aeronautical Technology of Saint Louis University where he studied Aeronautical Engineering. He also received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Nebraska.

In pursuit of his dream to fly, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a Private on October 4, 1951. After completing Basic Training and Advanced Technology schooling, he entered Aviation Cadet training. His dream was now in sight. Bill received a reserve commission as a Second Lieutenant on September 14, 1953. After completing advanced training, he received his wings on January 14, 1954. In 1955, while serving in his first active duty assignment with the 95th Bomb Wing (H), at Biggs Air Force Base, TX, his outstanding airmanship and military bearing were recognized by his Squadron Commander and his reserve commission was replaced with a regular commission in the USAF.

For eleven years he flew on Strategic Air Command combat crews and logged over 4,900 flyer hours in the B-36 Peacemaker, B-52 Stratofortress, and other military aircraft.

From 1965-1968, the Air Force “loaned” Colonel Halteman to the Central Intelligence Agency with Headquarters at Langley, VA, to facilitate bringing to operational readiness, the Agency’s A-12 super-secret Blackbird spy plane, which would later be known as the SR-71. The A-12 flew its first operational mission over North Vietnam on May 31, 1967 while it was deployed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. In 1968, now that the A-12 was operational and was deployed from Area 51 in the Nevada desert, his assignment with the CIA was completed and he volunteered for duty in Vietnam.

Colonel Halteman was assigned to Seventh Air Force Headquarters, ARC Light Plans (ARC Light were the code words for all B-52 operations in Southeast Asia.), Tan Son Nhut Air Base, as the Deputy Commander. His combat missions were flown from Utapao Air Base, Thailand, in the B-52 which was affectionately called the BUFF by ground troops in Vietnam.

Upon completion of his tour in Vietnam in July 1969, he was assigned to a key Joint Staff position on the Navy Atlantic Command, Norfolk, VA, from which he retired in June 1973. Among his thirteen decorations are the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal.

From 1973 through 1983, he sold commercial real estate in Virginia Beach for his own account, and selected clients, with a Real Estate Broker’s license. He is a Graduate of the Realtor’s Institute, a member of the Real Estate Securities Syndication Institute, and the National Association of Realtors.

Bill worked tirelessly as a volunteer on community service projects in Virginia Beach from 1973 – 1992. He was a member of Lions Club International for over 20 years, serving as President of the Thalia Lions Club in Virginia Beach, VA, 1977-1978, and held many other cabinet positions in Virginia District 24-D. He was named a Melvin Jones Fellow by the Lions Club International Foundation in 1990. He helped establish the first Sheltered Workshop for the mentally retarded in Virginia Beach and served as Vice President of their Board for two years.

Virginia Beach City Council appointed him to serve on the Virginia Beach Community Services Board (VBCSB) from 1983 through 1988. He was elected Chairman of the Board in 1985 and was instrumental in establishing and funding the first detoxification center in Virginia Beach. On April 27, 1989, Virginia Beach Mayor, Meyera E. Oberndorf, recoginized his volunteer service on the VBCSB with a special RESOLUTION. He continued to serve in other capacities to enhance the lives of Virginia Beach citizens with mental health, mental retardation, or substance abuse problems through programs with Community Alternatives, Inc., and Community Alternatives Management Group, and received additional recognition for these efforts on May 28, 1992.

Bill had many interests. Among them was golf and coin collecting. He was a member of the Kingsmill Men’s Golf Association and played golf about three times a week all year long. An avid coin collector, he was a member of the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation Collectors Club and entered nine of his collections in their National Registry. All nine sets still hold a national ranking of “First Place.” He was also a member of the Professional Coin Grading Services Collectors Club.

Colonel Halteman is survived by his wife of 51 years, the former Kathleen Methvin from Birmingham, AL; his nephew, Peter Carril, Jr.; niece, Lisa Carril; and brother-in-law, Peter Carril, Sr.

The family will receive friends on Monday, May 2 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg. A service will be held at Nelsen Funeral Home on May 3 at 10:00 AM. Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.nelsencares.com.

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Lieutenant Colonel William O. Bill Halteman, USAF (Ret.), 80, a resident of Kingsmill since May 1992, died on April 29, 2011 at his home.

Bill was born on March 18, 1931, in Bethlehem, PA. He was the son of the late Clemence W. Halteman, Sr. and Marjorie B. Halteman. Bill was preceded in death by his older brother, Second Lieutenant Clemence W. Halteman, Jr.; and older sister, Dolores L. Carril.

Survivors: Colonel Halteman is survived by his wife of 51 years, the former Kathleen Methvin from Birmingham, AL; his nephew, Peter Carril, Jr.; niece, Lisa Carril; and brother-in-law, Peter Carril, Sr.

Services: The family will receive friends on Monday, May 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg. A service will be held at Nelsen Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 3 at 10 a.m. Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Online condolences may be expressed at www.nelsoncares.com.