Col. William Michael Fagan Sr.

Col. William Michael Fagan (Bill), 93, joined the Lord Jesus on Sunday July 9, 2017 at Azalea Trace following a brief illness. He leaves behind his five children: Michael, Ronnie, David, Paul and Janet; seven grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren and many close friends. Born and raised in Seattle, WA, the son of Edmund Henry and Mable Marie Fagan, Bill was a resident of Ft. Walton Beach for many years. He moved to Pensacola with his beloved wife Janet Alexena (Ena) Reid in 2009. As a young boy, Bill joined the “Jimmy Allen Flying Club,” which inspired a deep passion for flying. He became a pilot, flying in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Bill received his BS in Engineering at the University of WA, and his Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1961.

Bill married his high school sweetheart, Ena, in 1943 in San Antonio, Texas, and was a career officer in the Air Force until 1970 when he retired. As well as his military career, Bill had an active life of community service. Over a period of 40 years, he served with the Kiwanis Club, Meals on Wheels and was the President of the Ft. Walton Board of Realtors, and the Arts and Design Society of Ft. Walton Beach. He contributed many hours as a Sunday school teacher and elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Ft. Walton Beach, including being a worship leader and friend to the aged in the Gulf Coast Convalescent Center in Ft. Walton Beach. In 2016, Bill was awarded the French Legion of Honor, France’s highest military honor, for his missions as an Aircraft Commander in a B-26 during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. In his youth Bill loved back-country skiing in the Cascade Mountains with his future wife Ena, and swimming and fishing in the Puget Sound.

Bill’s dry sense of humor always caught people off-guard. His many sayings became known as “Faganisms” and include gems such as ‘Many men smoke but fu man chu’ or ‘fly low and slow’ and ‘you’ll have to wait for your mother.’ His integrity and his inclusive love for all people rippled through his actions and he was a sterling example of compassion, generosity of spirit and honesty for his children. Viewing will be held at Bayview Fisher-Pou Funeral Home on Scenic Highway on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. with funeral services at Barrancas National Cemetery on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 12 noon and a memorial service at the Azalea Trace Auditorium at 2:00 p.m, immediately followed by a wake from 3:30-4:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to the Salvation Army or the National Parkinson Foundation.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Bayview Fisher-Pou Funeral Home.