John William McCann

John was born Dec. 11, 1924, in Pittsburgh to James Paul and Stella Page McCann. He was the youngest of six children.John lived an idyllic childhood in Pittsburgh, where he and his dog would walk to the incline pulling his wagon to meet his father each evening, pick up the groceries and pull them home. He graduated from South Hills High School in Pittsburgh in 1943. He joined the Army Air Corps and served as an aerial gunner in the South Pacific during World War II. Upon discharge from the Army Air Corps, he attended Grove City College in Grove City, Pa., where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in bio-chemistry in 1950.He returned to his love of flying and joined the U.S. Air Force. He completed his pilot training and graduated from the cadet program and earned his wings at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, and his single-engine jet aircraft pilot training at Williams Air Force Base in Chandler, Ariz. He flew F-84s in the Korean conflict. He was involved in extensive travel and hazardous duty in Japan and Korea, and for his extraordinary achievement during this period he was awarded the Air Medal. Upon his return from Korea, he was stationed at Special Weapons Command, Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque.John met and married Marilyn Breckenridge in Albuquerque, and they celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary in 2009.He was a proof test pilot in the research and development of nuclear/thermonuclear weapons/devices. He was an assistant professor of air science at St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia. He was stationed at Amarillo Air Force Base, Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany and Luke Air Force Base in Arizona until he retired. The family moved to Amarillo in 1968, where he lived the remainder of his life.John was a Christian and a perfectionist. He expected the best from everyone and gave that to everyone in return. He enjoyed snow skiing, fishing, landscaping and was an avid fan of the Tascosa High School band. He mastered everything he attempted.He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Paul; and three sisters, Stella, Imelda and Amanda.Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; three children, John W. McCann, DDS, and wife Maureen of Vancleave, Miss., Kimberly M. Hebrard and husband Mike of Portland, Ore., and Denise M. Blanchard and husband Hank of Amarillo; a sister, Doris Forshey of Newark, Del.; five grandchildren, Robert Blanchard of Houston, katie McCann of Vancleave, Andy Hebrard of St. Joseph, Mo., Allison Smith of Gautier, Miss., and Thomas Blanchard of Amarillo; and two great-grandchildren, Austin and Evolet Smith.The family suggests memorials be to Thomas E. Creek Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 6010 W. Amarillo Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106.

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