William Chaney

William R. “Bill” Chaney, 80, passed away peacefully June 8, 2004, at Life Care Center of Mount Vernon after a long illness. Bill was born October 9, 1923, in Alameda, Calif., to Ira and Louise (Ray) Chaney.

Bill graduated from high school in Hollywood, Calif., in 1941 and attended college in Fort Collins, Colo. Bill met his future bride Eileen Byfield in Phoenix, Ariz., soon after enlisting in the Army Air Corps pilot training program. Bill and Eileen were married in 1944. After graduating from flight school, Bill flew the B-17 and B-29 bomber aircraft until his discharge in 1945.

Bill returned to civilian life and became a disk jockey at a radio station in Bakersfield, Calif. In 1952, he returned to active duty with the U. S. Air Force at Biggs Air Force Base. He flew B-47 bomber aircraft. In 1957, he was transferred to Anderson AFB, Guam, where he flew weather reconnaissance missions in WB-50 aircraft, making numerous penetrations of typhoons in the Pacific storm tracking systems.

Bill returned to Biggs AFB, where he flew KB-50 air refueling tanker aircraft. In 1963, he was transferred to Yokota Air Base, Japan, where he was the base operations officer. From there he went on to Charleston, AFB, S.C., where he flew the C-141 cargo aircraft on numerous missions to Europe and the Pacific area during the Vietnam War. Bill retired in 1970 with the rank of lieutenant colonel, having served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Bill and Eileen settled in Auburn, Calif., following retirement. They enjoyed touring the country in their GMC motor home, including trips to Whidbey Island. In 1989, they made Oak Harbor their permanent residence. Bill was a member of the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church.

Bill is survived by his wife Eileen of Oak Harbor and by his cousin Ron Chaney and wife Carol, also of Oak Harbor.

Private burial was held at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Oak Harbor. Memorial services will be held Thursday, June 17, at Oak Harbor Retirement Community, Memory Care facility, with Pastor David Lura officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.