Born Sept. 27, 1922, in Philadelphia, Pa., Wilson E Passant Jr. lived over one hundred years before passing away on Dec. 4, 2022, with family at his side.
Wilson was married to his childhood love Bettyjoyce Angstadt Passant for more than 65 years prior to her passing. Together they had two sons, Kip Passant (Melissa) of Lake Charles, La., and Greg Passant (Pat) of Pleasanton, Calif.; grandchildren, Kati Passant McDonald (Sean) and Corey Passant (Erin), both of Lake Charles; along with three great-grandchildren, Zoe, Cooper and Sage, whom he loved so dearly.
Wilson (P-Paw to his grandkids and great grandkids) entered the Army Air Corps. during World War II and was a B-17 Pilot flying missions into Germany out of North Africa and Foggia, Italy. Like many from “The Greatest Generation” he never really spoke of his time in combat unless it was a story with a humorous ending. After returning from the war, he went to college on the GI Bill and received a degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia.
Not long after graduating from Drexel he re-enlisted in the U.S. Air Force active reserve, because he loved flying and serving his country. In the 1950s he was stationed in Guam and flew missions from various south pacific air bases during the Korean war. At the end of the Korean war, he was stationed at several Strategic Air Command (SAC) Airforce bases. At Plattsburgh AFB in upstate New York. he served as the commanding officer of an Atals missile silo during the 1963 Cuban Missile Crisis. From Plattsburgh he transferred to Loring Air Force base in Maine where he was promoted to Lt. Colonel.
After he retired from active duty in the USAF, he and his family moved to Portsmouth, Rhode Island as he wanted his two sons to attend elementary and high school in one place and not be uprooted every few years the way Air Force families were.
Wilson always prioritized service to his country and loving and caring for his family ahead of all other things. He lived life by his rules and not other peoples’ (except those forced on him by the U.S. Military or his wife). Proud and fiercely independent to the end, he was loved and will be missed by his family and friends.
The family would like to give a sincere thanks to the nursing and entire staff at the Veranda assistant living facility and Harbor Hospice for the caring and love they shared with him in the final years.
A celebration of life will be held on Jan. 19, 2023, in Lake Charles, La., at a location to be announced at a later date.