John William “Bill” Churchill, 90, of Portsmouth, N.H., formerly of Ridgefield, CT, died peacefully, Thursday, August 8, 2013 at his home.
He was born March 26, 1923 in Ravenna, OH, a son of the late Royal S. and Myrtle (Jones) Churchill.
Bill became a Navy Pilot in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He flew many rescue missions out of Hawaii, tested early JATO Packs on PBY’s and PBM’s and was a member of the US Naval Air Reserve for 20 years, during which he was recalled to active duty for the Cuban Missile Crisis, ultimately retiring as Commanding Officer of patrol squadron VP-832.
For 30 years Bill was a TWA pilot, based out of JFK Airport in New York, retiring as a Boeing 707 Captain.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Sharon Churchill of Portsmouth; sons, John Churchill and his wife Joann of Parker, AZ, Keith Churchill and his wife Dorphine of Santa Cruz, CA, Bob Churchill and his wife Jeanette of Savannah, GA; daughter Elizabeth Churchill and her husband Erik Kloninger of Honolulu, HI.
He was predeceased by his first wife Constance.
Bill will be interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Hawaii during a private family ceremony.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made in his name to Sol Amor Hospice, 65 Lafayette Road, North Hampton, NH 03885 or the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor on historic Ford Island, 319 Lexington Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96818, www.pacificaviationmuseum.org.
Assistance with arrangements was by the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, Hampton. Please visit www.RemickGendron.com to view Bill’s memorial website, sign the tribute wall, or for directions.