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MACWILLIE -- Stephen Saxton COL (Ret) Stephen Saxton MacWillie died at UAB in Birmingham, AL on Saturday, April 8, 2006. A Memorial Service was held at the Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker at 11:00 a.m. on Friday morning, April 14, 2006. In lieu of floral arrangements, the family requests donations to the Stephen S. MacWillie Memorial Fund, PO Box 310043, Enterprise, AL 36331-0443 to aid and benefit cancer research. Stephen was born in New York City on December 23, 1940 to Donald M. MacWillie and Virginia Saxton MacWillie. His early years were spent as a military dependent and he developed a global view of the world early in life. Stephen graduated from Immaculata High School in Leavenworth, KS and attended Norwich University. Steve joined the U.S. Army in 1964 and was commissioned 2LT in the Field Artillery in 1965. Steve started Army flight training at Ft. Walters, TX and received his Army Aviator wings at Ft. Rucker, AL in 1966. Steve served his first tour of duty in Vietnam in 1967 with the 229th Aviation Battalion, 1st Cav Division. While serving his second tour in the Republic of South Viet Nam, CPT MacWillie was the Chief, New Equipment Training Team for the introduction of the OH-58 Kiowa into the aviation fleet as the new scout helicopter. Steve graduated from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL in 1974. Steve and the former Phyllis Ann Fraker of Missouri were married in 1972. Steve had subsequent career building assignments and as the Chief of the Concepts and Studies Branch at Ft. Rucker, he led the Army's Light Helicopter Program (LHX) initial determination of requirements. After graduation from the U.S. Army War College in 1988, Steve and Phyllis returned to Ft. Rucker where he had assignments at the TRADOC System Manager for Comanche, and finally as the Director of Combat Developments. Steve retired from active duty in 1993 and continued his life-long support and involvement in Army Aviation as a supporting contractor. Throughout his life and career, Steve was a tremendously knowledgeable mentor and friend to innumerable people. Steve was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Enterprise, AL. He was a life member of the Army Aviation Association of America, The Retired Officer Association, Viet Nam Helicopter Pilots Association, Association of the United States Army, and the American Helicopter Society. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, COL (Ret) and Mrs. Donald M. MacWillie, and his sister, Bonnie Brandolino. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis of Enterprise, AL; and his daughter, Virginia-Ann Saxton MacWillie (Ginny), of Arcata, CA; his sister, Nanci M. George of Albuquerque, NM; brother, LTC (Ret) Donald M. MacWillie, Jr. of Killeen, TX; and a special nephew, COL Donald M. MacWillie, III, Commander of the 4th AVN Brigade, currently serving in Iraq and his wife, Sherry of Ft. Hood TX; and numerous nieces and nephews in Texas, New Mexico, and Missouri.
        Published on: Sun April 16, 2006