David Stein

David Meyer Stein, 92, passed away Wednesday, March 06, 2013 at the VA Hospital in Tucson, Arizona after a lengthy illness. He was born August 4, 1920 in North Wales, Pennsylvania to Samuel and Rebecca Stein. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Dorothy Stidham Stein, and their son Daniel Nathan Stein. Also preceding him in death were his parents, his brothers, Heimert and Abraham Stein, and his sister, Rachel Stein Lipman.

He is survived by his brother, Harry Stein Rose, of Boynton Beach, Florida his three daughters, Rebecca Stein Lockenbach Richard of Tallahassee, Florida Lt. Col. ret. Vicki Stein, of Washington D.C. Susan Stein Shofner Steven of Las Vegas Nevada three sons, Michael Stein, of Roswell, New Mexico Murray Stein Pati, of Tucson, Arizona and Brian Stein DAn of Tucson, Arizona grandchildren Staff Sgt Rachel Stein Sine Michael of Kirkland AFB, Albuquerque, New Mexico Risa Lockenbach Epstein Brad, Atlanta, Georgia Stephanie Shofner, or Las Vegas, Nevada Whitney Shofner Michalskey Daniel, of Las Vegas, Nevada and Daniel Micah Lockenbach, of Tallahassee, Florida and a great granddaughter, Jade Bryan, of Albuquerque, New Mexico and several nephews, nieces, and grandnephews and grandnieces.

He will be laid to rest in a graveside service at South Park Cemetery on Monday, March 11th at 2 p.m..

David attended Business School in Charleston, West Virginia prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1939. He reached the Rank of Technical Sgt and applied for Officer Candidate School and Flight training. After Graduating from the Aviation Cadet Program at San Marcos Army Air Force Base he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. In The Army Air Corps. He flew 41 Combat missions in B17s before he was shot down over Memingen, Germany on July 18, 1944. He was interned for the last year of the war as a P.O.W. in Stalag Luft 1. He had many assignments after the war including a tour of duty in Army Counter Intelligence. After graduating from the 1st US Air Force class of Triple Rated Flying Officers in 1948 at Mather Air Force Base he was transferred to the 509th Bomb Group at Walker Air Force Base, Roswell, New Mexico as an Operations Officer. At the time Roswell was the home of the only Atomic Bomb Unit and was the primary unit for the Fledgling Strategic Air Command. David was transferred to England in 1952 as the Air Force Attach for the London Embassy. At the request of Colonel W.K. Martin Commander of the 6th Bomb Wing he was recalled to participate in the organization of the reactivated Unit with the new B36 intercontinental Bomber. He retired as a Major in the Air Force in 1959 after receiving training in the B52 and the B58 Hustler supersonic Bomber. He was a rated Senior Pilot and Senior Navigator in The US Air Force with more than 10,000 flying hours in various aircraft. He was awarded the following decorations in combat. The Purple Heart with 1 oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal, EuropeanAfrican, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 Battle Stars, WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters and the Prisoner of War Medal. He went on to work with General Dynamics as a Lead Engineer on the Atlas Missile program. He later worked as an Engineer for Boeing on various projects including the Saturn V project which was the launch vehicle for the Apollo Space Program. Roswell was his home for more than 50 years where he raised his family, participated in the Jewish community, serving in various leadership roles at Temple BNai Israel and on the Roswell Ministerial Association, and was an active member and officer in both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the International Organization of Foresters.

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