- Date Of Birth: October 12, 1924
- Date Of Death: December 7, 2017
- State: Colorado
Lt. Col. (Ret) Francis LeRoy Aires, 93, loving husband and devoted father, passed away peacefully, December 7th, 2017, joining his wife, Alice, and his son, Tommy, in heaven. He is survived by his children, Lee (and Nancy), South Bend, IN, Timmy (and Mary), Glenridge, NJ, Mary (and Dan), Sacramento, CA, Priscilla (and Tony), Lone Tree, CO, Terry (and Tamara), Colorado Springs, CO, and Siobain (and James), Lone Tree, CO, and by numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Frank will be dearly missed by those he left behind. Born in Brooklyn, NY, October 12, 1924, one of 10 children, Frank went on to graduate from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He then served 35 years with distinction and honor as a career Air Force officer. He served in WWII as a B-17 navigator, surviving multiple high-risk bombing missions over Nazi Germany, and also served in the Korean and Southeast Asian wars. During his time in the Air Force, Frank was awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and multiple Campaign and Good Conduct medals. After the Air Force, Frank settled his family in Colorado Springs and worked another 25 years with the United States Olympic Committee. He also volunteered at the United States Air Force Academy Athletic Department for 40 years. Frank was an honored recipient of the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame Col F. Don Miller award. He touched many lives and will be remembered for his great love and support of sports and as a unique, vivacious story teller.
