2LT John Earl Pilcher, Jr

BIRTH 9 Jan 1917 Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, USA

DEATH 7 Feb 2009 (aged 92) Panama City, Bay County, Florida, USA

BURIAL Greenwood Cemetery, Panama City, Bay County, Florida

Obituary

John E. Pilcher Jr., 92, of Panama City, Fla., passed away Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, in his home.

He was born Jan. 9, 1917, in Macon, Ga.

Mr. Pilcher was a businessman in the Panama City area for many years before his retirement some years ago. He was a veteran of World War II, where he piloted a B17 and flew 17 missions over Germany. He was shot down on his 17th mission and was a prisoner of war in Germany for 16 months, until his prison camp was liberated by Gen. George Patton. He received a Purple Heart for his service.

Mr. Pilcher was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Bobbie Newbern Pilcher; parents, Mr. and Mrs. John E. Pilcher Sr.; and five older sisters. Mr. Pilcher leaves a daughter and her husband, Christie and Richard Johnson, and their son, Reid; one son, John E. Pilcher III and his fiance, Kim Fazzone.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, in the Wilson Funeral Home chapel with Dr. John Friedman officiating. A private family burial will follow the services. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, at the funeral home.

Those desiring may make memorial donations to Covenant Hospice, 107 W. 19th St., Panama City, FL 32405, or to your favorite charity in memory of John E. Pilcher Jr. The family would like to send special thanks to Mr. Pilcher's caregivers, Nell Ard, Sue Starling, Ida Robertson, Edna Huggins and Jeane Sewell.

Published in the Panama City News Herald from 2/11/2009 - 2/13/2009

Pilcher remembered as war hero, Beach businessman

February 11, 2009 10:49:00 AM

By JON MILTIMORE / News Herald Writer

PANAMA CITY — Family and friends will gather this weekend to remember longtime Panama City businessman John E. Pilcher Jr., who died at his home Saturday. He was 92.

"He was a tough old guy, but kind and generous to those that knew him," said son John Pilcher III, a Panama City commissioner. "He lived quite a life."

It's a story a lot of people who knew him never heard, his son said.

Many knew John Pilcher Jr. ran construction and lumber businesses on the 1300 block of Beck Avenue for years. What many do not know is the life he lived before he came to Panama City, his son said Tuesday.

"He flew B-17s in World War II before he was shot down," John Pilcher III said. "I never realized how many people never realized he was in the war" until he died last week.

Pilcher Jr., born in Georgia in 1917, was attending the University of Wisconsin when World War II broke out, his son said.

"Like most people during that era, he signed up," Pilcher III said.

His father enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Piloting Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, Pilcher Jr. flew 16 successful bombing missions over Germany. He was shot down in his 17th and taken prisoner about 60 miles from Munich. He was held by a local militia until the Wehrmacht arrived and marched him leagues across Germany, Pilcher III said, where he was kept in railyards at night with other prisoners.

"Those were likely targets for American bombers," Pilcher III said.

After 16 months as a POW in Germany, Pilcher Jr. was liberated by George Patton's 3rd Army, his son said.

After returning from the war, Pilcher Jr. met his wife, Bobbie Newbern, who was working as a News Herald editor at the time. In 1949, he started a contracting company and later became an established businessman. Pilcher and his wife had one daughter and one son.

Pilcher III said his father was always proud of his service.

"There is a story behind the lives of all these men. They went over and did what had to be done," Pilcher III said. "They didn't have post-combat syndrome. They came home, went to work and didn't complain about it."

Pilcher III recalled about five years ago going out with his father on an hour-long flight in an old B-17 offering tours.

"It was unbelievable, seeing him tear up at the sight of it after all those years," Pilcher said. "It was a special moment."

Pilcher III said his father went to Munich years after his release and was able to learn where he was captured after he published a story in a local newspaper.

"A little girl he gave a piece of hard candy to (when he was captured) saw the story and remembered him," Pilcher III said.

Pilcher Jr. became friends with the girl years later and returned to Germany several times. His son said prior to returning to Germany, his father never spoke about his time in the war, but that changed after his trip.

"I think he pretty much became at peace with it," Pilcher III said. "He had some amazing stories to tell."

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. John Friedman officiating. A private family burial will follow the service. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 6-8 p.m.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33742585

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/121358

Member/Compatriot of the Florida Society Sons of the American Revolution,

Panama City Chapter

SAR National Society # 116548, Florida Society # 4304

John Earl Pilcher Jr