 WIMBERLEY, HAROLD KIRKLAND Age 88, passed away Saturday, March 9, 2013. He was born in Desdemonia, TX on October 20, 1924, to James and Earnest Kirkland Monroe. The colonel was a command pilot with more than 6,000 hours flying time and was the holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross with cluster. He flew 100 combat missions in Korea and 234 combat missions in Southeast Asia, with 42 of those missions over North Vietnam. A native of New Mexico, the colonel's military career began in 1943. He was commissioned through the aviation cadet program in June 1944. He left the Army Air Force in 1946 and obtained a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico. Recalled to active duty in 1951, he flew with the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing in Korea. Following a two year tour of duty with the Air Defense Command at Niagara Falls, N.Y., he was assigned to the Research and Development Command (R&D) at Wright Patterson AFB in 1954. Since that time most of his career has been associated with research and development of fighter aircraft. He is a graduate of the experimental test pilot school, the Command and Staff College, the Industrial College for the Armed Forces and completed his master degree in R&D Management at the University of Southern California, in 1966. Prior to coming to Kadena, Wimberley was the chief of the Drone Management Group, Directorate of Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare, Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development. He was married to the former Eleanor Nunn from Deming, N.M. The Wimberley's have two sons, Kirk and Jim; two daughters, Carol Ann and Diane; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2013 at Daniels Family Funeral Services - Wyoming Chapel, 7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque NM at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery. To view information or leave a condolence please visit www.danielsfuneral.com Daniels Family Funeral Services 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 505-821-0010
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