Paul Francis Graham Egan, 93, of Franklin, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, August 28, 2009. He was born January 9, 1916 in Jamaica Plain, Boston, the only child of the late Daniel Francis Egan and Mabel (Durning) Egan. For the past 12 years, he was the beloved husband of Leona Redonnet-Egan & was predeceased in 1996 by his loving wife of 46 years, Margaret (Batykefer) Egan.
He proudly served his country as a decorated Air Force veteran, a Pearl Harbor survivor, who led a distinguished 28 year career, retiring at the rank of Lt. Colonel. He taught public school for 24 years in Western Pennsylvania following his 28 year military career. He was active in community service following retirement at age 70, serving on the Civil Preparedness Committee in Franklin, as well as participating in Memorial and Veteran’s Day activities. He was a Mason, a Shriner (Almas Temple), a member of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Association and the West Medway Community Church. He was a member of Parkwood United Presbyterian Church in Allison Park, PA from 1967-1997. He was an avid reader and enjoyed watching television news programs.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1939 and was wounded on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He completed flight school and was stationed in England during WWII. He was a pilot flying countless missions for the 7th, 8th, and 9th Air Forces including unarmed reconnaissance missions over Germany. As a Pathfinder pilot, he dropped the Combat Engineer paratroopers the night before D-Day, and served as the Air Force representative at the Japanese surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri. He served two tours of duty during the Korean Conflict, taught pilots at the Navy Air Station at San Diego, California, and retired from Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany during the war in Viet Nam in 1967.
Besides his loving wife, he is survived by five children, Scott Egan of East Alton, Illinois, Peter Egan and his wife Elaine of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Jean Egan and her husband Robert Okun of Suffield, Connecticut, Nancy Schmitt and her husband Robert of Grass Valley, California, Kathy Effron and her husband Morris of Cambridge, Maryland, and a stepson David Redonnet and his wife Lynne of Medway, as well as seven grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the Hospice care nurses, and especially Rose Marie Cain, and the many nurses of the Visiting Nurses Association, and the fire fighters of the Franklin Fire Department.
Relatives and friends will gather at the Ginley-Crowley Funeral Home, 3 Barber Street, Medway on Tuesday, September 1 from 5-8 p.m.
A funeral service will be held at the Ginley-Crowley Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 2 at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the West Medway Community Church Memorial Fund, 193 Main St., West Medway, MA 02053.
Interment with military honors will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.