Orv Erdmann passed away on May 13th, 2010 in Lompoc, California, thirteen days after his 89th birthday.
Orv was born in Artas, South Dakota, the third of four siblings, and grew up in Oakfield, Wisconsin. After graduating from Oakfield High School, he attended Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin until Dec. 7th, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He immediately enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and received his pilot wings in September, 1942. He flew P-38, P-39, and P-47 aircraft out of New Guinea during World War II. He also flew the F-86 "Sabre" Jet Fighter in "MIG Alley" in Korea in 1951. As a fighter pilot, he was listed in the top 5% of combat missions flown.
Orv married Gayle "Skip" Bershaw of Lewiston, Idaho, in 1946. They enjoyed military life while being stationed at numerous assignments, including the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and Oslo, Norway. After retiring from the Air Force in 1966, Orv moved to Lompoc to raise his family. He was employed by New York Life Insurance Company and later by the Lompoc Police Department. Retiring in 1985, he continued to support the community by volunteering as a Senior Citizen Tax Preparer for AARP, delivering Meals on Wheels, and serving as a past president of the Lompoc Valley YMCA. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Retired Officers Association at Vandenberg AFB. Orv was a voracious reader, an avid bridge player, and a world history buff.
Orv is survived by his six children: Tom, Barbara (Leon), Susi, Sharon (Allan), Bob and Ted; his high school sweetheart and companion, Lorraine Dishman; twelve grandchildren; and one great-grandson. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, Skip Erdmann, brothers Robert and Warren Erdmann, sister Marge Erdmann, and son-in-law Robert W. Ziegler.
A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Lompoc on Saturday, May 22nd, 2010, at 1:00 pm. A reception will be held in the Fellowship Hall following the service.