Lewis James Neyland left us on his final solo flight on Tuesday, October 13, 2015.
Lew was born on May 6, 1921 in Great Falls, Montana, and on grew up on a homestead north of Great Falls, farming wheat, until he joined the Army Air Corps in 1942. Lew married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Manley, in May of 1945, and celebrated 46 years together until her passing in 1991.
Lew was a consummate life-long aviator and lived a full and rewarding life of service to country and family. Lew was one of the first weathermen to graduate from UCLA during WW II, and spent a highly decorated 31-year Air Force career in Air Weather Service advancing the prediction and use of weather information to enable worldwide military operations. As an Air Force pilot, Lew flew dozens of types of aircraft during his career, including his favorite P-51 Mustangs, as well as P-38s, P-47s, B-25s, C-47s, C-54s, T-33s and T-39s. Lew’s illustrious career as a pilot and meteorologist spanned continents, including assignments in Germany, Turkey, Iceland, Canada and Vietnam, as well as many locations across the US, culminating in Command of the 4th Weather Wing in Colorado Springs.
Lew retired from the Air Force in 1973, settling in Colorado Springs, and went on to become a national aviation record holder flying Schweitzer I-26 sailplanes. He continued his dedication to aviation and remained an FAA Certified Flight Instructor until his 90’s. Lew was the President of High Flight Soaring Club, at the Meadow Lake Airport, for more than a decade, introducing whole new generations to the thrill of soaring. In his spare time after retirement from the Air Force, Lew built houses in Breckenridge, Colorado.
Lew is survived by his brother Keith, his four children: Michael in Springfield, Virginia; Robert in Breckenridge, Colorado; David in Melbourne, Florida; and Kathleen (Neyland) Gustad in Loveland, Colorado; seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel.