Ira C. Weatherly, Jr.

BYRD FUNERAL HOME ON WEST MAIN

Viewed: 1595

Posted by: ByrdFuneralHome
[email protected]
334.793.3003
Date: Sep 25 2012 7:09 PM

Byrd Funeral Home

3409 W. Main Street

Dothan, Alabama 36305

334.793.3003

byrdfuneralhome.com

Ira C. Weatherly, Jr.

Retired Lt. Col. Ira C. Weatherly, Jr., 90, of Dothan, AL passed away peacefully at home Sunday, September 23, 2012.

Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m. Friday, September 28, 2012 at Byrd Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jerry Hood officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Gardens of Memory Cemetery with Byrd Funeral Home on West Main Street directing. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:15 p.m. on Friday prior to service time.  Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Child Advocacy Center.

Ira was born August 23, 1922 in Memphis, Tennessee and lived the early years of his life there.  Ira enlisted in the Army Air Corp February 1, 1943 and within two years became a real American WWII hero. In 1944, Ira was assigned to the 393^rd Bombardment Squadron of the elite 509^th Composite Group, Wendover Army Airfield, Utah. He was then deployed to Tinian in the Marianas in 1945. On August 6, 1945, Ira co-piloted his B-29 airplane called “Straight Flush” as the weather reconnaissance aircraft preceding the “Enola Gay” on the Hiroshima bombing mission. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1968, with 25 years of military service. Upon retirement, Ira began a second career as Chief Test Pilot at Hayes Aircraft Corp. in Dothan, AL.

Ira was preceded in death by his father, Ira Cecil Weatherly; his mother, Francis Weatherly; sons, Steve Weatherly and Larry Thomas “Tommy” Bonner.

He is survived by his wife Jeanette “Janet” Weatherly of Dothan; his sons, Cecil Weatherly (Berry) of Los Angeles, CA, Ralph Weatherly (Cynthia) of Australia, Frankie Stone (Jill) of Dothan, AL; his daughters, Cecile Weatherly Morgan (John) of Opelika, AL, Carol Weatherly Dracos of Dothan, AL, Linda Weatherly Dean of Dothan, AL, Wanda Bonner Buchanan (Benny) of Ashford, AL, Barbara Bonner Foise (Keith) of Fulshear, TX, and Jenell Odom Williams (Jerry) of Graceville, FL; his grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and the many foster children Ira and Janet nurtured who call him “Daddy.”  Janet wishes to express her deep gratitude to the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who surrounded him with such loving care during this last chapter of his life.

The entire family appreciates and recognizes the loving care given by Dr. Richard T. Kennedy, Advantage Hospice, and First Light of Dothan. Also, the night and day care and love given by two grandchildren, Jenny Leigh Bonner Henderson and Larry Thomas “TJ” Bonner, Jr. to both Ira and Janet in memory of their father, Tommy Bonner.

Grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers.

<- back