John Hatcher

John W. Hatcher of Hastings, NE passed away on July 17, 2013. He formerly lived in Leavenworth and Leawood, KS. He was born in Beckley, WV on July 28, 1929 to John H. and Violet (Walker) Hatcher. He grew up in Charleston, WV. After high school graduation, he was accepted into the Holloway Plan which included attending the University of Virginia and flight training as a Midshipman in Pensacola, FL. He transferred to the Marine Corps upon completion and was sent to Korea as a fighter pilot in 1952. He flew 85 combat missions in Corsairs and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 4 Air Medals and other UN and Korean medals. In 1955, he joined Trans World Airlines. He retired in 1989 as Captain after 34 years having flown the "Connies", DC-9, Boeing 727, Lockheed 1011 and Boeing 747 on both domestic and international routes. He also served in the Marine Corp Reserves until 1970, retiring as Colonel, USMCR.

John was a charter member of what is now the Airline History Museum, life member of the Naval Aviation Museum, Leavenworth Lions Club and Marine Corps Museum.

John married Sally Dorr on June 27, 1959 in San Mateo, CA. She survives along with their children, John. W Hatcher, Jr., Austin, TX; Susan (Hatcher) Overmiller, Hastings, NE; Sharon (Hatcher) Tilley, Larkspur, CA; and their spouses Leslie Hatcher, Tim Overmiller and Christopher Tilley. There are 9 grandchildren to cherish his memory: Taylor, Matthew, Blake and Nathan Overmiller; Jeffrey, Steven and Laura Hatcher; and Andrew and Ian Tilley. John is survived by his sister Carolyn (Hatcher) McColloch of Austin, TX and her husband Sam as well as many nephews and nieces in TX, MI, GA, and IA.

Services will take place Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. at Butler Volland Chapel, Hastings, Nebraska with Pastor Cindy Karges officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to LCHS (Leavenworth County Historical Society) 1128 5th Avenue, Leavenworth, Kansas 66048, or the Airline History Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.