Larry Leighton Nunn, 81, died on June 6, 2017, in Conway, Arkansas.
He was born on June 12, 1935, in Sentinel Butte, ND, the first son of Leighton and Mildred (Johnson) Nunn. His early years were spent on several ranches in North Dakota and in the town of Medora, ND, before he moved with his family to Miles City, Montana, where he graduated in 1953 from Custer County High School.
He enrolled in one of the last Air Force cadet pilot training programs, graduating in 1956 with a commission as a second lieutenant. This was the beginning of an Air Force career that included thousands of hours piloting jet fighters, two combat tours in Southeast Asia, and other assignments as diverse as commanding a maintenance squadron, developing weapons systems and interacting with his counterparts in Turkey. Among his awards is the Distinguished Flying Cross.
He retired from the Air Force in 1979 with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and settled with his family near Conway, Arkansas. Larry worked with the Beaverfork Volunteer Fire Department for many years, serving as its Chief for twenty of those years.
He is survived by Jean, his wife of 56 years; his daughters, Stacie Mobley of Charlotte, NC, and Hillary Nunn and her husband Richard Wisneski of Akron, OH; his son Curtis and his wife Sarah of Prairie Grove, AR; granddaughters Lauren and Meredith Mobley; and grandsons Charles and Peter Nunn. Survivors also include Larry’s brother Gene and his wife Donna of Cowley, WY; and two sisters: Irmalyn Fowle and her husband Richardson of West Lebanon, NH, and Joan Hicks and her husband William of Malta, MT; one niece, Annette Hicks Benton; and several nephews: Todd and Tom Nunn, Tim and Tom Fowle, and William Hicks.
Jo Ryan says
Gene and Donna, So sorry for the loss of your brother. Treasure the memories.
Katherine Flint says
Irmalyn, So sorry to hear about your brother. The class of 1958 send you their love and prayers.
Fred Erickson says
I flew his wing in Europe; trekked with in survival school; refueled en-route to Japan, Korea and Okinawa and lifted a few glasses after a hard day in the air. Fred Erickson