Gone But Not Forgotten

Honoring fallen comrades is an important part of the AOG mission and we ask to be notified as soon as possible of the death of any graduate, Air Training Officer or cadet so that we can take appropriate actions. The AOG has learned of the following deaths within the past 90 days.

For best results, try searching by Last Name (e.g. Smith), Class Year (e.g. 1959), or Cadet Squadron (e.g. CS-01). More complex searches may not return desired results.

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Capt Francis Townsend - Class of 1970 , CS-10

Deceased on August 13, 1972

1st Lt Michael Turose - Class of 1970 , CS-20

Deceased on September 17, 1972

2d Lt George Umbarger - Class of 1970 , CS-25

Deceased on August 6, 1971

Mr. Philip VanderVelde - Class of 1970 , CS-30

Deceased on March 8, 1970 - Informed on March 8, 1970

Mr. Felipe Villafranca , Jr. - Class of 1970 , CS-02

Deceased on April 28, 2011 - Informed on November 14, 2011

We're sorry but no further information is available.

Mr. Joseph Wade - Class of 1970 , CS-21

Deceased on April 26, 2020 - Informed on April 28, 2020

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral services are pending at this time.

Lt Col (Ret) Dayton Webb - Class of 1970 , CS-27

Deceased on March 4, 2005

Mr. Robert Webb - Class of 1970 , CS-05

Deceased on November 20, 2022 - Informed on December 5, 2022

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral service: Held at time of passing for the family. Celebration of Life currently pending for later in 2023. Obituary: https://www.healyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/robert-l-bob-webb Memorial Donations: Westford Food Pantry, 20 Pleasant St, Westford, MA 01886

Mr. Thomas Westmoreland - Class of 1970 , CS-29

Deceased on January 19, 2006

Mr. Kenneth White - Class of 1970 , CS-29

Deceased on December 20, 2023 - Informed on January 30, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Interment: 1330 hours on 21 Jun 2024 at the USAFA Cemetery. No further information is available at this time.

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Next of Kin

For Next of Kin support resources please visit: https://www.usafanextofkin.org/

Frequently Asked Questions

Gone But Not Forgotten Annual Publication

The Air Force Academy Association and Foundation are introducing a new benefit to better memorialize USAFA graduates and support their families. We are launching a new annual memorial publication in 2025.

A: As the Academy graduate population ages, Checkpoints is increasingly insufficient in accommodating the increasing number of obituaries. This has necessitated the creation of a new publication as part of our commitment to remembering all fallen graduates, Air Training Officers and cadets.
A: The purpose of the publication is to honor and perpetuate the legacy of the Long Blue Line through the personal stories of our graduates. The publication is in the spirit of our mission to support the Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution.
A: Gone But Not Forgotten will be part of the final name, which is not yet finalized.
A: No, but the Association will list basic information on deaths in each issue of Checkpoints.
A: No. If/when memorial articles are sent to the AOG, the tribute is posted to this webpage.
A: A complimentary copy will be mailed to a loved one of the deceased. It is not yet determined if the printed publication will be available at a nominal cost or at no cost to AOG members.
A: There will be a one-year transition period. Memorial articles sent in to run in Checkpoints in 2024 will also appear in the inaugural memorial publication. The deadline for Gone But Not Forgotten submissions in the December 2024 issue of Checkpoints is mid-October, but any memorial articles about deaths for the remainder of 2024 received by mid-January 2025 will appear in the inaugural 2025 stand-alone publication. Then going forward, the full years’ worth of tributes would be published in the next year’s volume.
A: The first memorial publication will likely be printed in February or March of 2025.
A: We currently have a 400-word maximum for each memorial tribute and will continue with that limit for the first stand-alone publication. We’re doing this because we have already received submissions at that length and don’t plan to ask for longer versions for the 2025 edition.
A: We will transition to roughly 450- or 900-word options for memorial tributes. Whoever writes and submits the memorial article will have the option to write to either word limit.
A: A recent favorite photo of the deceased, when possible. The photo (head and shoulders, color preferred) should be emailed as a .jpg and sent as a high-resolution image.
A: Please email Next-of-Kin Support Specialist Terri Davis at deceasednotifications@usafa.org.
A: That is coming soon.
A: Please reach out to David Bitton, assistant director of strategic communications and publications, at 719-247-8745 or use our Contact Form.

Gone But Not Forgotten