Stanley Mague

Sept 19, 1923 – March 9, 2016 Stan “… slipped the surly bonds of earth…” on his last flight on March 9, 2016. He was born in Washington D.C. to Roscoe and Ethel Mague. In 1931 his mom took his friend and him to watch the planes land and take off at Washington National (now Ronald Reagan). While there, a “barnstormer” made a deal with his friend and him. If they could recruit three fares @ $5 each, he would take them along for $1. It was love at first flight. His interest continued throughout his childhood and through his years at Fishburne Military School where he graduated in 1941. He applied and was accepted into George Washington University and was invited to rush Acacia Fraternity. One of his fellow rushes was dating Marie La Commare. While waiting for their dates in the lobby of the boarding house, Stan spotted Marie’s older sister descending the stairs. It was love at first sight. He won her heart and they were married September 7, 1943 in Washington D.C., and remained together until Lee’s death in 1998 separated them. June 1944 saw him on his way to the Pacific theater war in Burma. His first boss was LTC “Tex” Hill formerly of the Flying Tigers. In March 1945 he began “flying the hump” into China. He was honorably discharged in October 1946 and returned to D.C. He maintained his flying skills at a reserve unit at Andrews Field. He drove a cab during this period. In the summer of 1947 one of his fares was a Col Rector from his WWII China days. They chatted and Stan told him he missed the camaraderie of the service. Col Rector suggested he talk with his wife and then come to the Pentagon the next day. Both were excited to be in the Air Force again. He remained in the USAF until his retirement on November 30, 1963. Stan had become a command pilot, been an instructor pilot in several aircraft, and flew more than 7,500 hours. After retiring from the Air Force he continued his love of flying with Hudgin Air Charter Service, then on to Apache Airlines, State Drywall and Apache Drywall. While with the drywall companies, he flew crews all over southern Arizona, hung drywall and flew the crews back to Tucson. It was in this timeframe that he learned many construction skills. He would later apply those skills in a lucrative business endeavor. After retiring from flying, he was hired to maintain the Newman Center and complete small remodeling projects. In late 80’s he began golfing 5-6 days a week. Teeing off at 5 am, playing 18 holes, returning home to work on “honey do’s”, then research on genealogy and do woodworking. The last several years he golfed with Mike once a week and would go to the gym 3 days a week with Marianne where he would work out for two hours or more. He kept this up until December 2015. He is preceded in death by his parents Roscoe and Ethel Mague, his wife Lena and their two sons Timothy and Allan Mague. He is survived by: children Michael (Linda) Mague, daughter-in-law Linda K. Mague, Patricia (Rod Jahnz) Taylor, Jeffrey (Judy) Mague and Marianne Mague; grandchildren Brian (Leslie) Mague and Brent (Robyn) Mague, Travis (Lora Inclan) Mague and Scott Mague and Stephanie Mague, Amanda Taylor, Matthew Mague and Pamela (Jason) Wilensky; great grandchildren Braden and Lila Mague, Olivia and Isabel Mague, Rayann (David) Chansky and Carissa and Colby Mague, and Taylor and Allyson and Timothy James Mague, Garrett Erdman, Hayley and Bria Wilensky, and five others who also called him Grandpa. He is also survived by brother-in-law Ernest Jakel and his family. He will always be loved, respected and deeply missed by family and friends.