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Barry O'Grady, 76, US Air Force Major (Ret) passed away on Monday, March 22, 2004. Barry was born May 27, 1927 the son of John Joseph and Lottie Mae Acree O'Grady in Gardnersville, Kentucky. He attended Covington, KY Holmes HS, graduating in 1945. He was a member of the championship football and track teams in 1944-1945. After high school, he served in the Army of Occupation in Germany, 1946-47, where he managed the largest Snack Bar Restaurant in Germany for Army Exchange in the Opera House at Stuttgart Germany. Upon returning stateside, he attended the Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati and the Univ. of Louisville until entering the Air Force Cadets Training in April 1950 at the beginning of the Korean War. After graduating from pilot training, he was a B-25 Flight Instructor from 1951-1955. He graduated from Oklahoma State in 1955 with a degree in Industrial Psychology. Barry served as an officer in the USAF until he retired in 1971. During his career he was assigned to Directorate Nuclear Safety where he drafted almost all of the Strategic Air Command's weapons system safety rules for B-47 and B-52 aircraft as well as Atlas, Titan and Minuteman missile systems. He also served as Nuclear Safety Officer for non-US NATO forces from 1963-66, and a Flight Safety Officer at various Air Force Bases. From 1968 to 1969 Barry served one tour of duty in Vietnam, flying 300 combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross. During this time he served six months as Squadron Commander, 22nd Tactical Air Support. He.retired from the Air Force in Feb. 1971. He attended Wright State University, Ohio receiving a Masters Degree in Special Education in 1977. Barry was the owner and operator of Miami Valley Farm and Campground, Quincy, OH from 1971-1978 before retiring and returning to Rio Rancho, NM in 1979 to present, where he met and married the former Cris (Fofa) Delgado in 1980. In retirement Barry enjoyed playing tennis and golf where he met many life-long friends. Barry is survived by his wife Cris; daughter Kathleen Dailey and husband Larry of Winter Garden, FL; sons, Michael of Daytona Beach, FL and Patrick and wife Leslie and family of Oxfordshire, England, and Barry J. and wife Dale and family of Ogden, UT; grandchildren, Carrie Ann and Miranda Jean Goings, Bryan Dailey, Lisa and Jennifer O'Grady, and Cory, John, and Veronica O'Grady. The Viewing for Barry will start at 9:30 and Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, March 26, 2004 in the Chapel of Vista Verde Mortuary, Sara Rd. at Meadowlark Ln., Rio Rancho. The Internment will be Friday, March 26, 2004 at 1:00 PM at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe. Military Honors will be presented by the VFW, Post 2951 of Santa Fe. Arrangements by: Vista Verde Mortuary Rio Rancho, New Mexico 892-9920
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