1935
Bruce
2014
Bruce R. "Pete" Booher
December 16, 1935 — April 1, 2014
Bruce R. "Pete" Booher
Palm Desert, California- Bruce R. "Pete" Booher, 78, died of pancreatic cancer a year ago on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at his winter residence in Palm Desert. His home was in Park City, Utah.
Pete was born December 16, 1935 in Struthers, Ohio, a son of Bruce O. and Helen L. Hope
Booher. He was a 1953 graduate of Struthers High School.
He was a student at the former Youngstown College in 1956 when he was recruited into the U. S. Naval Aviation Cadet Program. Up to that time, he had never been in an airplane.
Graduating from flight school, he became a Marine pilot, flying an A-4 fighter-bomber 208
combat missions in Viet Nam. After 13 years as an aviator in the U.S. Marine Corps, he retired
as a Major.
Upon discharge, Pete trained as a commercial pilot attaining airline pilot status. He became a
pilot with the former Western Airlines, and continued on with Delta Air Lines when the two
companies merged. After 28 years, in 1996 he retired as a Captain with Delta at the mandatory retirement age of 60.
He leaves his wife, the former Maryann Thompson, whom he married in 2014; his former wives,
Carol Massie Booher Haynes and Diane Cunningham. His companion of ten years, Kristi
Williamson died in 2005; a son, Craig (Lisa) Booher of Meridian, Ohio; a daughter, his loving care giver at the end of his life, Cheryl (Greg) Bebka of Struthers; step daughter, Stephanie McManus of Irvine, California; brother, Tom (Nancy) Booher of Poland; grandchildren, Brian (Stephanie) Bebka of Salt Lake City, Utah, Jonathan Miller of Struthers, Jessica Atkinson of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, Joshua (Kellie) Booher of Meridian, Ohio, Jacob (Julie Anne) Booher of Boise, Idaho; great granddaughter, Crystal Atkinson and great grandson, James Atkinson of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. He cherished his continuing friendship with his Struthers buddies and his Marine Squadron mates, eight of whom visited him just prior to his death.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved daughter, Carolyn Booher.
A Memorial service will be held on the anniversary of his death, April 1, 2015, at 1:00 PM at the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home, Struthers. Family and friends may visit Wednesday from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at the funeral home.
Memorial Contributions in Pete's memory may be made to: Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, 273 Columbus Ave., Suite 10, Tuckahoe, NY 10707.
Visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.
Palm Desert, California- Bruce R. "Pete" Booher, 78, died of pancreatic cancer a year ago on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at his winter residence in Palm Desert. His home was in Park City, Utah.
Pete was born December 16, 1935 in Struthers, Ohio, a son of Bruce O. and Helen L. Hope
Booher. He was a 1953 graduate of Struthers High School.
He was a student at the former Youngstown College in 1956 when he was recruited into the U. S. Naval Aviation Cadet Program. Up to that time, he had never been in an airplane.
Graduating from flight school, he became a Marine pilot, flying an A-4 fighter-bomber 208
combat missions in Viet Nam. After 13 years as an aviator in the U.S. Marine Corps, he retired
as a Major.
Upon discharge, Pete trained as a commercial pilot attaining airline pilot status. He became a
pilot with the former Western Airlines, and continued on with Delta Air Lines when the two
companies merged. After 28 years, in 1996 he retired as a Captain with Delta at the mandatory retirement age of 60.
He leaves his wife, the former Maryann Thompson, whom he married in 2014; his former wives,
Carol Massie Booher Haynes and Diane Cunningham. His companion of ten years, Kristi
Williamson died in 2005; a son, Craig (Lisa) Booher of Meridian, Ohio; a daughter, his loving care giver at the end of his life, Cheryl (Greg) Bebka of Struthers; step daughter, Stephanie McManus of Irvine, California; brother, Tom (Nancy) Booher of Poland; grandchildren, Brian (Stephanie) Bebka of Salt Lake City, Utah, Jonathan Miller of Struthers, Jessica Atkinson of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, Joshua (Kellie) Booher of Meridian, Ohio, Jacob (Julie Anne) Booher of Boise, Idaho; great granddaughter, Crystal Atkinson and great grandson, James Atkinson of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. He cherished his continuing friendship with his Struthers buddies and his Marine Squadron mates, eight of whom visited him just prior to his death.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved daughter, Carolyn Booher.
A Memorial service will be held on the anniversary of his death, April 1, 2015, at 1:00 PM at the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home, Struthers. Family and friends may visit Wednesday from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at the funeral home.
Memorial Contributions in Pete's memory may be made to: Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, 273 Columbus Ave., Suite 10, Tuckahoe, NY 10707.
Visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bruce R. "Pete" Booher, please visit our flower store.