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Lt. Col. George A. Randlett, Ret.

Lt. Col. George A. Randlett Ret. passed away in peaceful repose on September 18, 2010 at Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs, Florida.

He had resided in Citrus Park for the past twenty-five years and left many good friends that will dearly miss his warm and gregarious personality. He was 93.

Born April 20, 1917 in Solon, Maine; the son of George Harold and Edith Maude Randlett, he grew and boarded at Goodwill School in Hinckley, Maine.

Upon graduation of High School in 1935 he began taking flying lessons in Waterville, Maine, which would mark the beginning of an illustrious career in aviation. He spent several years “barnstorming” before enlisting in the US Air Force in 1943. He found his “nitch” as a B-24 bomber pilot trainer during WWII. During 1947 he joined the US Army Air Corp Reserve until he activated into the Rhode Island Air National Guard in 1954.

During this period he dabbled in a few civilian jobs, with the New Haven Railroad and St. Regis Paper Company.

In early 1948 he met and married his wife, Louise Bettina Meader of Skowheagan, Maine (Betty) in what would be a union of fifty-three years. They started their family of four children in East Providence, R.I.

George became an Air Traffic Controller, working for the FAA in 1959 at the Boston Air Traffic Control Center at Logan Airport in Boston, MA.

In 1961 the Center was moved to Nashua, NH which would be switched to the Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center. At that time they moved their family to Old Temple Rd. in So. Lyndeboro, N.H. where their four children attended graduated from Lyndeboro Elementary and Wilton Jr. High and High Schools.

George transferred to the New Hampshire Air National Guard at Grenier Air Field in 1961 and later to Pease AFD in Portsmouth in the middle of the 1960s.

Somehow George managed along with Betty, his full-time job with the FAA his flight time with the Air National Guard, made constant improvements on his house (The Ponderosa) and had two week long camping trips with the family every year.

All four children graduated from Wilton High School; Jill in 1967, David in 1969, and Robert and Susan in 1971.

George retired from the Air National Guard having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1972, and retired from the FAA in 1981.

George and Betty moved to Somerville, Maine after his retirement, where they enjoyed ten years of peaceful lakeside living before moving to Citrus Park in Bonita Springs, Florida, in 1985.

George was a 50+ year member of the Masonic Lodge. He first joined Overseas Lodge #40 in Cranston, R.I. In 1956; Clinton Lodge #52 in Wilton, N.H. Where he became Worshipful Master in 1981. He became a member of Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Nashua, N.H. and Beklash Temple Shrine in Concord, N.H. He moderated his activities to some small traveler group after moving to Bonita Springs, Florida in 1985. He was a lifetime member of the “Good Sam” Travel Club, VFW, American Legion and The Eagles Club.

He was predeceased by his first wife Betty in 2003, his second wife Evelyn Lalone Randlett in 2008 and is survived by his present wife; Joan Parkinson Randlett. He is survived by his four children; Jill B. Randlett of Harpers Ferry, W.V, David G. Randlett of Joneau, AK, Robert A. Randlett of Folly Beach, S.C. and Susan J. Peaslee of Estero, FL; four great grandchildren Lindsey, Kalie, and Kelsey, Randlett; daughter of Robert and Cathy Laponsie Randlett of Wilton, NH, Stephanie Randlett of David and Tina Lancaster Randlett of Frederick, M.D., grandson, Robert Peaslee, III and great grandson Coen Peaslee of Lobback, TX.

Burial in Hinckley, Maine will be private. Thoughtful and heartfelt contributions may be made to: The Grand Lodge of N.H. Charity Fund PO Box 486 Milford, NH 03055.