Obituary of Harry Allen Meloeny

HARRY ALLEN MELOENY JR was born August 12, 1939 in Denver, Colorado, to June Elizabeth Fees and Harry Allen Meloeny Sr. 

At the age of 3 the family relocated to Richland, WA.

Harry graduated from Richland's Columbia High School in 1957 and began his studies at the University of Washington. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He attended Air Force ROTC training while at the University of WA and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in October, 1962. Prior to entering active duty he worked for the Boeing Company.

Harry later earned an MBA from Southern Illinois University.

Harry’s active duty time began following the Cuban Missile Crisis.

He was stationed at Malmstrom AFB, Montana, as a supply and missile maintenance officer before being selected to attend undergraduate navigator training at Mather Air Force Base, California.

While stationed in Montana, he met and married Grace Tollefson of Starbuck, Minnesota, who was employed as a teacher in Great Falls. They were married 52 years.

Following navigator training, his Air Force career included assignments at McChord Air Force base, Washington and McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. He was deployed to Tan Son Nhut Air base, Republic of South Viet Nam, for one year in 1972. He was command navigator and logged over 8500 hours in EC-47, C-141A and C141-B aircraft.

After 24 years of active duty and achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel, Harry retired from the US air Force and returned to WA state, where he resided in Steilacoom until his death due to interstitial lung disease on Sept. 1st, 2019.

He is survived by his wife Grace, son Matthew, daughter in law Ruth, grandchildren Noah, Madeleine and Josephine, sister Dorris, niece Elizabeth and nephews Eric, John, and Ben.