George Richard Dettenmayer

George Dettenmayer, age 96, of Pittsboro, NC, formerly of Partlow, VA, died February 1, 2018.  His wife, Grace Renfrow Dettenmayer, preceded him in death in 2003, and a son, Gary Dettenmayer, in 1972.  He is survived by a daughter, Heather Dettenmayer Fisher and husband Michael Fisher of Pittsboro, NC; son, Dr. Lynn Dettenmayer and wife Patricia Dettenmayer, two grandchildren, Meghan Dettenmayer, Erik Dettenmayer and wife Danielle Dettenmayer, all of Sarasota, FL; brother, Edward Dettenmayer of Centerville, OH; and brother-in-law, James Robert Renfrow of Raleigh, NC.

Captain Dettenmayer was a retired airline pilot employed by American Airlines from 1950 to 1981.  He learned to fly during World War II with the Army Air Corps, and served his country by completing 55 combat missions over German skies with the 8th Air Force.  He completed the required tour of 35 missions flying as pilot on B-24 bombers, and then volunteered to fly P-51 fighter planes, and flew an additional 20 missions.  He was one of only 13 Air Corps pilots to volunteer for this double duty service.

After his retirement from American Airlines in 1981 he devoted his time and energy to his beloved 160-acre farm in Spotsylvania County, VA, and at age 86 he moved to Pittsboro, NC where he lived with his daughter and son-in-law.

He elected for cremation.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to CORA Food Pantry, P.O. Box 1326, Pittsboro, NC, 27312 or to Transitions Hospice Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC, 27607. https://transitionslifecare.org 

A memorial/celebration of life service will be held at Woodland Terrace, 300 Kildaire Woods Drive, Cary, NC, on April 7, 2018, at 2:00 PM.