Lt. Col. John Arthur Feil

Lt. Col. John Arthur Feil, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed from this life Tuesday, May 13, 2014, surrounded by family and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 2920 Azle Ave. Committal with military honors will be at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will commence at 6 p.m. Sunday with visitation following at Biggers Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the American Kidney Foundation or the American Lung Association.

John was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 13, 1931, to Anton and Barbara Briel Feil. He graduated from Boston English High School and Burdett College before joining the Air Force in 1952. He attended Air Force pilot training program in 1954 and served as a pilot, instructor and flight examiner in the U.S. Air Force Military Air Transport Service from 1954-1962. In 1962, John joined the Safety Division serving as wing chief of safety in Dover, Delaware (1962-1966); director of safety at Tan Sohn Nhut Air Base (1966-1967); deputy director of safety at Fuchu Air Station, Tachikawa, Japan (1967-1970); command chief of flight safety at Military Airlift Command Headquarters, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and deputy director of quality assurance for the Defense Contract Administration in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1973-1976. His service included missions during the Lebanon crisis (1958), the Congo (1960), Guantanamo Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis and a tour of duty in Vietnam. In 1962, John piloted the cargo plane that carried Friendship 7, John Glenn’s space capsule, halfway around the world on what was referred to as the “Fourth Orbit.”

John retired from the Air Force in 1976 and joined American Airlines’ safety division immediately thereafter. He worked for American Airlines from 1977-1995, retiring as the managing director of the safety and environmental department, then worked as a consultant in the safety industry. He served on the Flight Safety Foundation – International Advisory Committee, the International Society of Air Safety Investigators, the International Air Transport Association – Safety Advisory Committee, Air Transport Association – Safety Council, Texas Safety Association – board of directors and the US Foreign Disaster Assistance – International Disaster Advisory committee.

He was a member of the Old Shakey Club, the Order of the Daedalians and the Wings Club.

At a friend’s wedding in 1952, John met Alma Theresa York. They fell in love at first sight and married August 14, 1954. Throughout their marriage of almost 60 years, they traveled extensively and raised a large, close family. John had a wonderful sense of humor and was a superb story teller. His special talent was the ability to put grandbabies to sleep by singing “Chock Full of Nuts” in his deep, rich voice. He had big, twinkling brown eyes that sparkled best when he was teasing. He loved and adored his family and friends. He set the example of how to work hard, live and love to the fullest and, most importantly, how to fight the good fight. High flight, Papa!

John was preceded in death by his parents, Barbara and Anton Feil; and his brother, Anthony.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the wonderful caregivers who treated John with kindness and respect, including the staff at the Fresenius Dialysis Center; the staff at Harris Methodist Hospital and the James L. West Community Hospice Center; Dr. Rabina Khan, Dr. Stephen Davis, Dr. Robert Meidel and Dr. Gregory Phillips.

He is survived by his loving wife, Alma; his sister, Ann Besgen and her husband, Peter; daughters, Susan Krus and her husband, Jerry, Donna Feil, Karen Emadiazar and her husband, Faramarz; sons, John Feil Jr. and his wife, Rebecca, George Feil and his wife, Lori; his adoring dog, Abigail; his wonderful grandchildren, Melody Emadiazar, Natalie Watkins, Alex Krus, Caitlin Feil, Cameron Emadi, Meagan Feil, John Feil III, Patrick Casey Feil, Lauren Feil and Tyler Feil; and many dear friends and extended families, the Burlone, Chicco, Frasier and Keyer families.