Major Lester John Vohs

Services for Major Lester John Vohs will be held, July 20, 2007, at 11:30 AM at the following locations: Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery Lyons View Pike Knoxville, TN 37919 865-594-6776 Vohs, Lester John, age 86 of Knoxville, died on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at his residence. He was a member of the Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church. The son of German immigrants, he followed his father?s example by serving this country in military combat. As a Pathfinder C-47 pilot, he dropped Pathfinder paratroopers to begin the invasion of Europe in WW II. He flew Pathfinder missions in Holland, the Rhine and Bastogne. He remained in the U.S. Air Force serving as a test pilot at the All-Weather Flying Center, and as a pilot in the Thunderstorm Project and the Hurricane Hunters. He also served as Commander and Operations Officer of the 29th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, flying the F-94C jet fighter. While on duty with the Airways Modernization Board, he sponsored a project which enabled aircraft operators to define the most efficient flight profile and install these in the air traffic control system. The concept of operationally desirable flight profiles is still in use today. He obtained a BS degree from the University of Maryland. After retirement as a Major, he studied construction engineering at the Technische Hochschule, Munich, Germany. He was employed by the Florida State Road Department as an engineer. He was the survey engineer on 22 bridges and associated roadways on the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike. Later, he was a yacht measurer of racing sailboats in the Eastern U.S. and Caribbean. He was always the environmentalist. He liked sailing, boating, fishing and SCUBA. He spoke in behalf of nature preservation at hearings which led to the establishment of the Biscayne National Park in South Florida. He participated in hearings in Knoxville on the Riverwalk project, declaring that the river belonged to the people and their access should not be denied. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife Mamie, who gave him excitement, care and affection during their 44-year marriage. Major Vohs asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to FISH Hospitality Pantry, 800 Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919, Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church 3700 Keowee Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919, or one?s charity of choice. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, July 20 at the Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery on Lyons View Pike, with the Volunteer State Honor Guard presenting military rites. A second memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, with Dr. William R. Barron and Rev. Michael Stanfield officiating. Major Vohs? guestbook can be signed online at www.highlandmemorialparks.com. Highland Memorial (Bearden) 588-0567 is entrusted with arrangements.