William Thomas Haneline

SEPT 15, 1923 - MAY 15, 2015 William T. "Bill" Haneline, age 91, went to be with the Lord on May 15th at the Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, CA. He was born in Indian Mound, TN to Lilburn and Sadie Mae Haneline. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Nancy Marie Haneline, sons William Jean (Violet) Haneline and Michael Thomas (Melanie) Haneline, brother George Haneline, sister in law Beverly DeWitt, grandson Jeremy Haneline, granddaughter Sonie Haneline, grandson Mick Haneline, step daughters Anna Deane and Diana (Logan) McKechnie, five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren and many family and friends who will miss him dearly. Bill is preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his sons, Jean Ruth Meek in 1973. Bill was raised on the family farm until he entered the US Army Corps in 1940. In WWII, he served as a pilot in the 440th Troop Carrier Group, whose primary functions were towing gliders and dropping paratroopers. On the night of June 5th, 1944, Bill participated in the Allied invasion of Normandy by dropping airborne troops behind German lines so they could prevent enemy troops from reinforcing the coastal defenders. After the war, Bill went to work for the US Airforce beginning at Bergstrom AFB in Austin, TX. He later transferred to Barksdale AFB in Bossier City, LA before eventually arriving at Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, Bellevue, NE. At SAC, Bill served as Director of Procurement/SAC until he retired. In 1977, he was honored by the Air Force Association as their Civilian Employee of the Year. Aside from his service to SAC, he was very active in the Bellevue community serving in the Presbyterian Church, The Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the Bellevue Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad. He was also a member of the Board of Bellevue Public Schools and served a term as their President. Bill retired to Riverbank in 1979. His favorite activities were dancing, fishing and visiting friends and family. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, May 28th, 2015 at 11:00AM in the Heritage Chapel at Lakewood Funeral home in Hughson, followed by committal with full Military Honors in Lakewood Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Bill's name be made to your favorite charities.