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Graveside services with full military honors for Col. Grover Staton McMakin (Ret), 81, of San Antonio will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, September 12 in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas 78209 with Rev. Michael Crocker officiating.
Born July 1, 1930, in Roswell, New Mexico, he died Friday, September 2, 2011.
Mac graduated high school at the New Mexico Military Institute in 1948. He received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Oklahoma State University in 1952. That same year, he enlisted in the United States Air Force as an Aviation Cadel. He received his Navigator/Bombardier wings and 2nd Lieutenant in 1953 and his Pilot wings in 1957. He served the country in many capacities throughout his career: pilot in the Security Service, Chief of the Pacific Security Region Flight Section, Chief of the USAFSS Flight Diversion, Squadron Commander of the 6994th Security Squadron (1971-1974), Squadron Commander for the 6916th Security Squadron, the first permanent Commander of the 6994th Security Wing, Director of Training HQ USAFSS, and Commander of the 6960th Support Group. Upon retirement in 1980, he returned to San Antonio where he received his Bachelors in Business Accounting in 1984. He worked at USAA as a certified public accountant, retiring in 1992. While in the military, he received the Legion of Merit with One Oak Leaf, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with Two Oak Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Five Bronze Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He enjoyed volunteering his accounting skills with the Wilford Hall Volunteer Association and served as the treasurer of the Freedom through Vigilance Association, as well as the USAA Golden Eagle Club. Mac’s greatest achievement was his family. He was a devoted husband and father and an outstanding grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty Jean McMakin.
He installed a strong sense of God, country and family to his surviving son, Kelly McMakin, daughter-in-law, Melissa McMakin, granddaughter, Skyler McMakin and grandson, Nick Patrizio.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project San Antonio or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Online guest book: Porter Loring
Porter Loring Mortuaries
A photo
of Col. McMakin was included in this obituary.
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