Colonel Waymon Lewis Sinclair, USAF (retired), of Livingston, TX passed away on January 11th, 2021 from complications related to COVID-19. Born in Holland, TX in 1931 to Charles and Idella Sinclair; Waymon grew up with one sister, Alice Strickland (deceased) in Wichita Falls, TX, until moving to San Angelo where he graduated from Central High School in San Angelo, TX in 1949 and married Patricia Ann Graham in 1950.
Waymon enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1952, rising to the rank of TSgt. as a Jet Mechanic and instructor at Amarillo AFB. In January 1957, he entered Officer Candidate School at Lackland AFB and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. He completed flight training at Goodfellow AFB in July 1958 and went on to complete over 21 years as a B-47 and B-52 Bomber Pilot, Air Operations Officer and almost 10 more years as Director of Operations for the Strategic Air Command (SAC). Colonel Sinclair completed tours to U-Tapao, Thailand flying countless long-range missions over enemy territory during the Vietnam War. There have been books written about several of his missions and the command strategies helping bring that campaign to an end. During the first 16 years in the USAF, he worked on his college degrees remotely, ultimately earning dual major degrees onsite for six months, in Political Science and Economics from Park College, Kansas City, Kansas. Colonel Sinclair’s 36 years in the USAF took him to many SAC bases in Texas, California, Kansas, Nevada, Arkansas, Michigan, Louisiana, Georgia and Nebraska before returning to his beloved Texas and retiring out of Carswell AFB, Texas after almost 36 years in June 1987. Colonel Sinclair earned multiple commendations including Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medals, AF Commendation Medal, Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device, Combat Readiness Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, AF Overseas Tour Ribbon, AF Longevity Service Award, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device, Water Survival Training Cross and several AF School and Training Commendations.
Waymon and Pat raised three children over the AF years while growing in their love of beautiful lakes, camping, skiing (both water and snow), hunting and travel throughout the USA. From tents to campers to trailers and RVs, the trips always included dragging a boat to a lake somewhere and enjoying stolen moments with friends and family wherever they happened to be. They always knew retirement would include continued travel and adventures throughout the USA, though Texas would always be “home”. Colonel Sinclair and Patricia were married 63 years, enjoyed time with their 3 children and 4 grandchildren, while “full timing it” in their RV at Escapees RV Park in Livingston, Texas beginning in 2011. They enjoyed so many friends from his AF career and their travels during retirement. Patricia preceded Colonel Sinclair in death in 2013.
Colonel Sinclair continued at Escapees and was blessed to enjoy many new friends and meet Shirley Coleman in late 2015; they married shortly thereafter in early 2016. Colonel Sinclair and Shirley continued the RV lifestyle and enjoyed extensive travel throughout the USA until his death as well as fun with friends at the park and beyond.
Colonel Sinclair’s survivors include his three children and their spouses: Lewis and Susan Sinclair of Austin, Vicki Sinclair of Seabrook and Byron and Lisa Sinclair of Austin Texas. Four grandchildren include Ashley and Abbey Sinclair of Austin and Victoria and Alexander Graham of Winter Park, Colorado (and Seabrook, TX). Shirley also blessed him with her children – Wade and Donna Willoughby and grandchildren, Gracie Jo Dickson, Kaylee and Abigail Willoughby, all of Gilmer, TX.
The Colonel will be remembered at a memorial service January 16th at Central Baptist Church @ 1 PM in Livingston, TX and will be inurned with Patricia Sinclair at the Texas State Veteran’s Cemetery in Killeen, TX sometime in February (TBD). He will long be remembered for the countless adventures and life lessons imparted to his family, his faith in God, an illustrious military career and discipline and his undying love for Texas. Rest in Peace Colonel.
|
