Will Roe Danehower

Will Roe Danehower, longtime resident of Arlington, passed away in Abilene on Saturday, February 12th, 2011, surrounded by family, after a brave battle with Alzheimer's. After entering the Windcrest Alzheimer's Care Center, along with his wife Evelyn, to be closer to family in Abilene, Danehower, 88, kept his good humor, and kindhearted nature, even into his final days, still lighting up until the very end, at the sight of his wife and three adoring daughters. Born in Forrest City, Ark., the son of cotton and soybean farmers, Nora and Samuel Danehower, he went on to attend the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a degree in engineering, which he more than put to good use in his long career as an aeronautics weight engineer, working with just about everything that made its way into the air, from Cessnas, to bombers, to commercial aircraft for LTV and Boeing, which included Bell Helicopter, Cessna, and General Dynamics. Away from the demands of career, Danehower had a passion for gardening, farming, the outdoors, his three loving daughters, and wife of 56 years, Evelyn. And, of course, he loved airplanes, on and off the job. Friends and neighbors remember him as smiling and selfless, always eager to help someone else out, putting others before himself. His gentle demeanor and his humble soul are remembered by his spiritual family at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Arlington, where he could always be found on a Sunday morning ushering parishioners and handling the offering plates. That spirit belies the WWII hero within, the Air Force Captain, who flew missions over India, Burma and China for the duration of the conflict, and the continued service in the reserves another 21 years. His classified missions with the 155th Liaison Commando Unit and 1st Air Commando Group, earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as the Air Medal. His service to his nation earned him honors, but his service to his family earned him the title, "Daddy", perhaps the job he cherished most, raising three daughters, Ann, Jenny and Danna. In lieu of flowers, Will, and his family ask that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (alzfdn.org). Will is survived by his wife Evelyn, daughters, Ann Danehower (Abilene), Jenny Hunter (Elgin, Ill.), Danna Ferrell (Abilene), grandchildren Kyle and Kourtney Maxwell, and special extended family Buzz and Jan Haven and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patti Roe, brothers John, James, Samuel and David, sisters, Mary Taylor and Azile Odom. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, February 18, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, with The Rev. N. Luke Back, Rector officiating.