Colonel Glen Randolph Dunlap, USAF Ret.

Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home

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Posted by: Fuqua-Bankston
www.fuquabankston.com
334-774-4551
Date: Jul 05 2013 3:27 PM

Colonel Glen Randolph Dunlap, USAF Ret. passed away Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at Flowers Hospital.  He was 92.

Funeral services with full military honors will be held at 10:00am on Monday, July 8, 2013, from First United Methodist Church in Ozark, with Rev. Dr. Christian Eckert, Rev. Dr. Billy Gaither, and Rev. Meghan Kelley officiating, and Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark directing.  Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to service time.

Glen Dunlap was born in Priddy, Texas, on June 20, 1921.  He was the first child of Amos O. and Flora May Dunlap.  Glen was raised on the family ranch and knew hard work at an early age.  At the beginning of World War II, he entered Aviation Cadet training in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and graduated class of 43K at Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas, on December 5, 1943.

To his family, Glen was a war hero – he flew 30 missions over Germany in B-24’s.  Three times his plane was shot up so badly, that he had to crash land, and yet he and his entire crew escaped unharmed.  Glen was the pilot in the lead plane on many of the 1000 plane raids that were flown out of England.  He told his wife and mother that he never started or finished a mission without a prayer. 

Glen was a dedicated Air Force Officer and an intensely patriotic man all his life.  He received a regular commission in the United States Army which was transferred when the US Air Force was formed to make a separate arm of the US military forces.  He flew many different types of airplanes, B-24, B-25, B-26, B-29, B-50, C-54, T-33, T-39, KC-97, KC-135, B-52’s, and a number of small Air Force planes.  He flew over 100 B-52 and KC-135 combat missions during the Vietnam conflict.  During his career, which took him all over the world, he was closely involved in highly classified projects such as the second atomic bomb test called SANSTONE, at Eniwetox Atoll in the Pacific and he worked with Gary Powers on the U-2 spy missions that were flown over Russia at that time.  For two years, Glen commanded the largest Strategic Bomb Wing in Strategic Air Command (SAC), the 43rd Strategic Bomb Wing based in Guam.

When he retired from the Air Force in 1973, his orders read “31 years, three months, and 1 day.”  His decorations included the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.

After retirement, Glen went into banking for the next ten years, the last five of which he served as President and CEO of the Fort Rucker National Bank.  He served two terms as President of the International Military Bankers Association.  He involved himself in his church, community, and politics.  He was a past member of the Administrative Board of the First United Methodist Church of Ozark.  He worked with Boy Scouts for years and was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award and served on the Alabama-Florida Council of BSA for a number of years.  He served two terms as President of the local chapter of the Retired Officers Association and one term as Council of Chapters President for the state of Alabama.  Then he went to Washington and served six years on the board of the National Retired Officers Association.  The Chief of Staff of the Air Force appointed Glen to the AIR FORCE RETIREE COUNCIL representing Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. 

Community projects were many, American Cancer Society, Chairman Dale County Republican Party, Chairman Ozark Chamber of Commerce Attracting Retirees and Military Affairs Committee.  He was a life member of many organizations, Daedalians (a flyers fraternity), The Retired Officers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Strategic Air Command Society, Air Force Aid Society.  He was a Scottish Rite Mason and a 50 year plus member of Solomons Lodge No. 1, Savannah, Georgia.  Glen was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Ozark, Alabama.

Glen received his BS degree from the University of Nebraska and was a graduate of Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University and the National Lending School at the University of Oklahoma.  He firmly believed that “if you don’t get involved, someone else will and your interests will not be protected.” 

Glen was always ready and willing to help his neighbors, and did so on a regular basis.  With his entire busy schedule, he was a dedicated family man, and though he was away from home for long periods during his active duty days, he managed quality time for his family.    

In addition to his parents, Colonel Dunlap was preceded in death by a sister, Wilma Dunlap Bishop. 

He is survived by his wife, Christine Dunlap, of Ozark; daughter, Susan Dunlap of Ozark; son, Glen R. Dunlap, Jr., of Jacksonville Beach, FL; brother, Wayne O. Dunlap, of Texas; grandchildren, Stephanie Marie West and Heather Lynn West Hedberg; a host of nieces and nephews.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to First United Methodist Church, 167 E. Broad Street, Ozark, Alabama 36360.

Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home in Ozark (334) 774-4551 is in charge of the arrangements. Members of the Dignity Memorial network. Condolences may be offered at www.fuquabankston.com.

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