Regret to report the passing of Col Tom Wotring ... 87FIS Commander ...ObituaryRetired United States Air Force Colonel Tom Wotring of Panama City, Florida, passed away on 20 December 2015 of complications from Parkinson's Disease. He was 84. Tom was born on July 2, 1931 in Gary, West Virginia, the son of the late Mabel Riley Wotring and Robert William Wotring. Tom is survived by his wife Gypsy, daughter Christy, and son Tom Jr., daughter-in-law Joan; and two sisters: Dorothy Simon of Morgantown, West Virginia; and Jean Price of Orlando, Florida. He was predeceased by his brother Robert Wotring, of West Valley City, Utah, and sister Katherine Herold of Charleston, West Virginia.A 1953 graduate of West Virginia University, he was commissioned in the Air Force and received his pilot wings through the Aviation Cadet Program.A superb pilot and leader, he commanded the 87th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and the 21st Composite Wing. Twice, units subordinate to him received the Hughes Trophy, awarded annually to the Air Force's outstanding interceptor squadron.He accumulated a total of over 5,000 flying hours in fighters, and 8,000 hours overall. During his military career he flew the F-86D, F-102, RF-4C, F-4E, and other aircraft. But his great love was the F-106 Delta Dart, in which he accrued 3,750 flying hours. Tom was awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses and eight Air Medals for RF-4C combat missions in Southeast Asia. His decorations also included two awards of the Legion of Merit. During one mission in Laos, Tom was flying an unarmed RF-4C down a road at 30 feet and 550 knots, and met a North Vietnamese tanker truck head on. He pulled up, but the truck swerved off the road and went over a cliff, giving Tom the distinction of destroying the enemy vehicle without firing a shot.Following his retirement from the Air Force in 1982 Tom was a controller/pilot in the QF-102, QF-100, and QF-106 drone programs. He flight tested every one of the 184 QF-106's produced. He also flew the Mitsubishi MU-2J. He was a member of the Order of Daedalians.Tom loved to play basketball and golf, and closely followed West Virginia University's football and basketball teams. As the Commander of the Air Force's largest Wing, he was once scheduled for a ten minute courtesy call with NBA star Rick Barry, who was visiting the base. That meeting turned into a three hour base tour as the two avidly discussed basketball and airplanes.His family and many friends grieve his passing.""Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth ... ""Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at 7 p.m. in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will be in the Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial contributions be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, www.parkinson.org in memory of Tom Wotring.Wilson Funeral Home.
Awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses and eight Air Medals for RF-4C combat missions in Southeast Asia. His decorations also included two awards of the Legion of Merit.
