William Francis McGeehan

William Francis "Bill" McGeehan, 94, of Jefferson City, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November 6, 2015. Bill was born April 10, 1921, in Bayonne, NJ the son of the late Hugh P. and Mary (Rysavy) McGeehan. Bill married Mary Katherine "Kay" Bowden on November 20, 1948 in Memphis, TN. Kay preceded William in death on November 28, 2012. Bill was raised in Staten Island, NJ. He graduated from St. Peter High School for Boys and then attended Casey Jones School of Aeronautics specializing in Electronics. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in September 1941. Shortly after the beginning of World War II, Bill transferred into Navigator School from Pilots School to avoid a lengthy delay in training. Bill had flown 5 combat missions when his B-17 was damaged by German anti-aircraft shrapnel on July 25, 1943, over Hamburg, Germany. He received numerous shrapnel wounds prior to bailing out and was captured by the Germans. He remained a P.O.W. for nearly 2 years before being liberated by U.S. troops on April 19, 1945. Bill remained in the United States Air Force for 22 years and retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1961. He received numerous metals and awards including two Purple Hearts and was a member of the Caterpillar Club. Wanting more in life, Bill entered college at Memphis State University and then went on to earn a degree in dentistry at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. Bill practiced dentistry for a year in Forsyth, MO before he and Kay and their 6 children moved to Jefferson City. Bill retired in 1984, after 18 years of practice. Bill enjoyed being outdoors as much as possible. Many hours were spent at the McGeehan Farm in Moniteau County where he and his children worked to improve the forest, ponds, and grasslands. Thousands of Christmas trees, Oak trees, and Walnut trees were planted over the years. Bill was featured in a Missouri Department of Conservation program highlighting his accomplishments in forestry. Bill is survived by his six children, Chip and Teresa McGeehan, Kathy and Charles Chace, Mike and Vera McGeehan, Pat and Cindy McGeehan, Ann McGeehan and Sheila Purdy; 17 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Eva McGeehan; brother-in-law, Thomas Watts; 11 nieces and nephews and many, many dear friends. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kay; a brother, Hugh McGeehan; a sister, Patricia Watts; his mother-in-law, Jessie Bowden; brothers-in-law, Jones and Floyd Bowden; and a sister-in-law, Margaret Bowden. Bill's family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, November 10, 2015, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home. Bill will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. Bill's family suggests memorial contributions in lieu of flowers to the Conservation Federation of Missouri in care of Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.