George Douglas Boswell

GEORGE DOUGLAS BOSWELL On December 6, 2017, George Douglas “Doug” Boswell took off and made his final turn for his eternal trip Westward. Doug was born in St. Louis, MO on 9/2/31 to Margaret and Dale Boswell. After completing various schools, he entered the Navy Reserve and was called to active duty in 1951 for the Korean War duration. After leaving active duty he served as a “plane captain trainee” in STL Navy Reserve Squadron VR922. His life-long love of flying was born there watching the pilots arrive for a flight, kick the tires, settle down in the cockpit, take off and have all the fun. Realizing that was not what was happening to him, Doug quickly learned to fly (using the GI Bill) at STL's famous Weiss Airport where he then became a flight instructor. During his career he earned the following pilot's certificates: Airline Transport Pilot with multiengine privileges including 2 jet powered type ratings, SEL and Sea Commercial privileges, plus all Flight Instructor privileges that were issued during the early 1950's. In 1958, Doug went to work for the then CAA (later to become the FAA) in the Washington, DC Air Route Traffic Control Center. He soon was detailed by the FAA from ATC to FAA Flight Standards Service as a Flight Safety Inspector and then redetailed to the AOPA Air Safety Foundation to assist in their General Aviation Safety efforts. In 1966, Doug was permanently transferred to the FAA Flight Standards Service. He then served in various field and Washington positions including Chief, General Aviation Operations Branch, Flight Standards Service, Washington Headquarters. Health problems eventually caused retirement. Retirement gave Doug time for some of his hobbies including Ham Radio and full-time RV travel. He married his loving wife Dolores (Dee) in 1997 and they lived in Texas after retirement. During his time in the DCA area, in addition to the previous described duties, Doug served as a Flight Instructor (with special FAA concurrence) for the HQ. USAF Aero Club, commonly called the “Pentagon Aero Club”, which was operating from the MCAS Quantico, VA. Of all the airplanes Doug flew, he said he enjoyed the T-34 the most. Doug was a member of the American Legion Post 310 in Gun Barrel City, TX as well as the Cedar Creek Amateur Radio Club. Doug is survived by his wife Dolores, his daughter Kathleen George and family of Front Royal, VA, his son, Thomas, and family of Lexington Park, Md, and one sister Margaret Joann Folluo and family of STL. His youngest son, Daniel, preceded him in death in 2006 due to pancreatic cancer. He is also survived by three step children and their families, John Watts Jr and Margaret Spear of Morris, IL, and David Watts, predeceased, of Braceville, IL. Submitted by Dolores J. Boswell