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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Maj Cleophus Chatman - Class of 1984 , CS-22

Deceased on June 16, 2020 - Informed on October 10, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Memorial service: 1400 hours on 27 June 2020 at Prayer of Faith World Outreach Church, 5801 South Anderson Rd., Oklahoma City, OK, 73150. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Oklahoma Regional Food Bank, https://secure3.convio.net/rfbo/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30102b?df_id=8814&mfc_pref=T&8814.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=787DA8DBC0ADD13061CD5F425EA05111 Obituary: https://www.bffuneralhome.com/obituaries/Cleophus-Dwane-Chatman-III?obId=15142499

Col (Ret) Kenneth Rosebush , Jr. - Class of 1972 , CS-21

Deceased on September 29, 2024 - Informed on October 3, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Service details: 1300 hours on 8 October 2024, at the Memorial Pavilion at the USAFA Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO. A reception will follow at the Blue & Silver room at the Eisenhower Golf Club house at USAFA, Colorado Springs, CO. Memorial donations: in lieu of flowers donations can be made to Myeloma Research Fund at giving.cu.edu/rosebush or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at T2T.org. Obituary: https://www.afterall.com/obituaries/KennethRosebush

Lt Col (Ret) Curtis Bentz - Class of 1972 , CS-15

Deceased on September 7, 2024 - Informed on October 3, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Service details: Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA at a later date. No further information is available at this time.

Dr. Jeffrey Edgecomb - Class of 1975

Deceased on April 14, 2021 - Informed on October 1, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Memorial service: 1300 hours 17 July 2021, at the Hammond Street Congregational Church, 28 High St., Bangor, ME 04401. Interment: 1400 hours 29 July 2021 at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 143 Blue Star Ave., August ME 04330. Obituary: https://obituaries.bangordailynews.com/obituary/jeffrey-jeff-edgecomb-1082371528

Mr. Donovan Nylund - Class of 1976 , CS-39

Deceased on September 20, 2024 - Informed on September 30, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Visitation: 1100 hours on 1 October 2024 at The Peterson Chapel, 300 Main St., St. Michael, MN, 55376 Celebration of Life: 1200 hours on 1 October 2024 at The Peterson Chapel, 300 Main St., St. Michael, MN 55376. A luncheon will immediately follow. Interment: 1100 hours on 2 October 2024 at the Pinewood Cemetery, 13852 Co Rd 36, Crosslake, MN 56442. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hopsital at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?frequency_selected=0&dedication=1&sc_dcm=58700008005633531&sc_cid=kwp&sl=memorial-gift&ds_rl=1285465&ds_rl=1291300&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsZuzuNDriAMVsTUIBR2IrzEGEAAYASABEgKOWvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds. Obituary: https://www.sctimes.com/obituaries/pmns0954734

Mr. Richard Abbott - Class of 1969 , CS-01

Deceased on September 7, 2024 - Informed on September 30, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Celebration of Life and Legacy: 1400 hours on 6 October 2024 at the Trione Vineyards & Winery, RSVP https://rickabbott-lifecelebration.com/event/rsvp/. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Caritas Village in care of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa andplease indicate that it is a tribute gift in memory of Rick, https://www.srcharities.org/how-to-help/donate.html. Obituary: https://rickabbott-lifecelebration.com/

Lt Col (Ret) Gary Turnipseed - Class of 1976 , CS-29

Deceased on September 16, 2024 - Informed on September 27, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence informaiton. Visitation: 1500 hours until 1700 hours 5 October 2024 at Kiser-Rose Funeral Home, 125 Idletime Dr., Greenville, TN 37743. Celebration of Life: 1700 hours on 5 October 2024, at Kiser-Rose Funeral Home 125 Idletime Dr., Greenville, TN 37743. Interment: at the USAFA Cemetery on a later date. Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/greeneville-tn/gary-turnipseed-11995878

Mr. Ronald Poulin , Jr. - Class of 1997 , CS-35

Deceased on September 7, 2024 - Informed on September 25, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Funeral service: 1230 hours on 8 November 2024 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, 7601 34th Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN. 55450 Celebration of Life: 1700 hours at the Chanhassen American Legion Post 580 290 Lake Drive E, Chanhassen, MN 55317 Memorial donations: in lieu of flowers donations can be made to Crossroads Animal Shelter and Community Veterinary Clinic, https://www.crossroadsshelter.org/in-memory-of-ron-poulin Obituary: https://www.crossroadsshelter.org/in-memory-of-ron-poulin

Mr. Herbert Linkner , Jr. - Class of 1964 , CS-04

Deceased on September 18, 2024 - Informed on September 24, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Visitation: 0930 until 1000 hours on 28 September 2024 at the Nie Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Funeral service: 1000 hours on 28 September 2024, at the Nie Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. The service can be livestreamed at https://northeastern.zoom.us/j/93809055345. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made in memory of Herb to The Farm at Trinity Health Ann Arbor, Office of Development, 5305 East Huron River Dr., P.O. Box 995, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0995 or at https://giving.trinityhealthmichigan.org/ann-arbor-farm-donation-form. Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/herbert-linkner-obituary?id=56356453

Mr. John Corman - Class of 1965 , CS-05

Deceased on November 30, 2023 - Informed on September 24, 2024

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Cremation: 1200 hours on 6 December 2023 at Wat That Thong, 1325 Sukhumvit Rd, Phra Khanong Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. An informal followed at Chesa, 5 Sukhumvit 20 Alley, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. Obituary: https://www.fccthai.com/archives/101

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Next of Kin

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten annual publication

The Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation has introduced a new benefit to better memorialize USAFA graduates and support their families.

Gone But Not Forgotten, which appeared in Checkpoints magazine for decades, has transitioned to a dedicated, annual publication. The inaugural edition of Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten will be published around March 2025.

As the Academy’s graduate population ages, Checkpoints has become increasingly stretched in accommodating the growing number of submitted memorial articles.
The new Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten publication will honor the Long Blue Line by sharing the personal stories of graduates and preserving their legacy. It reflects the Association and Foundation’s mission to support the Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution and Long Blue Line.
We considered several cost-effective, impactful options and consulted with our peers at the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy. West Point’s TAPS publication provided an excellent model for this new publication.
A: As part of this new service, a complimentary copy will be provided to a loved one of the deceased memorialized in the publication. Additional printed copies will be available for a nominal fee. The digital version will be available to all AOG members.
A: AOG members can access the inaugural digital issue at usafa.org once live. If you are not a member but wish to join and access this benefit and others, membership is available at no cost to all USAFA graduates here.
A: Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten is available for pre-order for $25 at shop.usafa.org or by calling 719-472-0300. Proceeds will help fund the program and offset the costs of providing a complimentary copy to families of fallen graduates, Air Training Officers, and cadets.
A: See below:
Each memorial article is available as a commemorative keepsake for $15. These articles are printed on parchment-like paper suitable for framing and come enclosed in a folder. Pre-orders can be placed at shop.usafa.org or by calling 719-472-0300.
A: See below:
A: Jan. 15 is the deadline for memorial article submissions for 2024 deaths.
A: Memorial articles should be 400 or fewer words in the inaugural publication.
A: Email a recent favorite photo of the deceased. The photo (head and shoulders, color preferred) should be emailed as a high-resolution .jpg. Low-resolution image submissions may be declined in favor of a cadet yearbook photo.
A: Submit a memorial article and photo through a form at usafanextofkin.org or email deceasednotifications@usafa.org.
A: Memorial articles for deaths in 2025 should be emailed when ready to ensure the Association can post the tribute on usafa.org/heritage/gbnf.
A: Memorial articles won’t appear in Checkpoints following the December 2024 issue, but the magazine will continue to list death notices.
A: Death notices will be printed in each issue of Checkpoints.
A: One of the major benefits of transitioning to a dedicated, annual publication is that memorial articles for deaths in 2025 can be up to 800 words. Each article will be respectfully presented on its own full page.
A: See below:
A: Memorial articles for deaths in 2025 will be printed around March 2026.
A: Call 719-472-0300 or email Terri Davis, next-of-kin support specialist, at deceasednotifications@usafa.org.
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