Lt. Col William Joseph (Bill) Goree, USAF, Ret., 86, of Summerville, husband of Elizabeth H. “Betty” Goree died Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Summerville Medical Center. Funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 11 o’clock at James A. Dyal Funeral Home Chapel, Summerville. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 6 until 8 o’clock Tuesday evening. Burial will follow at Dorchester Memory Gardens, Summerville. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to: American Heart Association , 409 King Street, Suite 300, Charleston, SC 29403. Bill was born December 19, 1923 in Birmingham, Alabama, son of the late Joseph James Goree and Jennie Louise Manly Goree. After graduating from North Charleston High School, he served an apprenticeship as a shipfitter at the Charleston Naval Shipyard. He left there to serve in the Army Air Corps in World War II and was a second lieutenant when the war ended. After the war, he attended the Citadel and graduated in 1949. He was recalled to duty and served our country for thirty one years in the Air Force attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was with the Strategic Air Command and served as a pilot, chief of conventional bomb testing, and chief of test evaluation among others. He was sent to Vietnam where he flew 143 combat missions and served as Airfield manager at Phan Rang and Da Nang. He retired in 1972. He was the Head of Engineering at Trident Regional Medical for its first eighteen years and retired in 1992. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, was a great handyman and a member of Bethany United Methodist Church. Surviving in addition to his wife are: 2 daughters and 1 son: Patricia “Pat” A. Goree of Atlanta, GA, William “Joe” J. Goree, Jr. of Summerville, Cheryl G. Lisk and her husband Jennings (Brad) B. Lisk, Jr. of Summerville, 3 grandchildren: Jennings “Jenks” Lisk, III, Haley E. Lisk and Katharine “Katie” Lisk all of Summerville and several nieces and nephews. A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jamesadyal.com ARRANGEMENTS BY JAMES A. DYAL FUNERAL HOME, 303 SOUTH MAIN STREET, SUMMERVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths.
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