Wayne Francis MacFarland

Wayne Francis MacFarland passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, in Oak Harbor at the age of 92. Wayne was born in Seattle on November 10, 1921 and lived on Queen Anne Hill throughout his childhood and adolescence, graduating from St. Anne’s School (where he was acknowledged as the catechism student of the year, every year!) and Seattle Prepatory School. Wayne was a steadfast workaholic from the beginning — from selling cans of salve for a quarter, to countless paper and sale announcement routes, to working at a grocery store and shipyard.

In September 1942, Wayne was accepted into the Army Air Force Aviation Cadet program and reported for duty in February 1943. A year later, Wayne graduated from the Air Force’s navigator-bombadier program. He was briefly assigned to a B-24 outfit out of Langly Field, Va., but prior to heading overseas, he was selected for advanced radar school in Boca Rotan, Fla. As a “triple threat” — navigator, bombadier, radar expert, Wayne was transferred from one pool of navigators to the next, and received many lucky breaks, as he never had to fly over a war zone.

One such “BIG BREAK,” as he wrote in his life story, was meeting his sweetheart of 67 years, Patricia Lorriane Petersen, while on leave in Seattle. He returned home from Guam in May of 1946 and they were married on Aug. 17 of that year in Conrad, Mont.

Wayne and Patricia lived in Seattle for the first two years of their marriage. In June 1947, they welcomed their first daughter, Lorri. Their first son, Chris, was born the following June.

In 1948, Wayne was recalled to active duty. He entered the atomic weapons program in Biloxi, Miss., and was later transferred to Sandia AFB in Albuquerque, N.M. and Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, Ariz. While stationed in Tuscon, Wayne and Patricia had Mary, their second daughter, in 1952 and son, Brian, in 1954.

Wayne worked as weaponeer (A-Bomb specialist) on a B-50 crew. He spent the majority of his 23 years in the Air Force as the wing special weapons officer, and as an instructor, teaching nuclear weapon theory to combat crews.

Wayne retired from the Air Force in 1965 at Travis AFB as a lieutenant colonel. The family moved to Whidbey Island in 1969 when Wayne received a job offer to work as Civil Service Officer at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. They settled in Oak Harbor. He retired from the civil service in 1983.

Wayne was a long-time member of St. Augustine Catholic Church of Oak Harbor, John E. O’Brien Council 3361, Whidbey-Fidalgo Assembly of 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Oak Harbor Elks Lodge # 2362, and he is a past member of the Oak Harbor Yacht Club.

A beautiful, gentle example of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, Wayne walked through life with his whole body, his whole spirit, smiling. For his family, Wayne was a beloved role model of integrity, patience, and perseverance. His leadership, grace, humility, unconditional love and generosity will impact generations. To be in Wayne’s presence was to feel wholly and completely loved. As a husband, father and grandfather, he was truly beloved.

A fantastic dancer with the sharpest wit in the bunch, Wayne never lost a gin or cribbage match, although would occasionally let his granddaughters win a hand. He was quick to laugh, wink, share a joke, and was a constant reminder of how joyful life can and should be.

Wayne was preceded in death by his daughter, Lorriane, and sons, Christopher and Brian. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Patricia; daughter Mary Darden (Ed); and grandchildren, Gavin MacFarland (Angela), Emily Darden Berkey (Christian), Rachael Darden, Emily Pryor (John) and Erika Whittier. He is also survived by daughters-in-law Diane MacFarland and Gwendy MacFarland, and six great-grandchildren, Evan, Kendall, Jack, Gavin, Claire and Brooke.

A funeral mass for Wayne MacFarland was celebrated on Friday, Dec. 6, at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church with Rev. Paul Pluth, JCL as Celebrant. Military Honors will follow under the auspices of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Rites of Interment will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery at a later date.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor. Family and friends are invited to shared memories in the Book of Memories on their website, www.wallinfuneral home.com