Maurice Kneeland

MAURICE BERNARD KNEELAND, Lt. Col. Air Force (Ret'd), 91, of North Little Rock, passed away Friday, April 6, 2012 at University Hospital, UAMS, after a brief illness. He was born December 3, 1920 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont to Guy F. Kneeland and Althea Reynolds Kneeland. He is survived by his wife, Norma Nadine Paul Kneeland, sons, Glenn (Lily) Kneeland, Ron (Becky) Oberlag, Reginald (Alice) Oberlag, and Randy (Jamie) Oberlag as well as 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his first wife Myrle Fisk Kneeland, son James D. (Jeanine) Kneeland, and brothers Dr. M.F. Kneeland and Bernard Bevins. He graduated in 1939 from People's Academy in Morrisville, Vermont and began a career as an auto mechanic. He was a B-24 pilot in World War II, and flew in the Korean War. In the Vietnam War he flew combat as a KC135 pilot. In 1970 he retired from the Air Force at Barksdale AFB in Bossier City, Louisiana. Later he became an air flight instructor and after moving to Arkansas, worked in and retired from the aviation insurance industry. Maurice flew with the Civil Air Patrol - Arkansas Wing out of then Adams Field doing pilot rescue and DEA surveillance until he was 87. Beginning in 2004, he also volunteered for the North Little Rock Airport Commission, North Little Rock Traffic Court and was a stalwart volunteer at the Patrick Henry Hays Senior Center in North Little Rock. Maurice logged in 2,613 volunteer hours until his hospitalization a week prior to entering the hospital. Maurice loved his roots in Vermont and owned and managed a Christmas tree farm in Wolcott, Vermont for over 40 years. He was the family historian and spent many weeks each year traveling to spend time with his relatives in Vermont. In addition to his family, he had a passion for flying, Civil War history, automobiles, and his canine friends. He was a gentle man and a gentleman. "Integrity with Honesty and Respect" was his motto and he lived it. A cremation was performed by North Little Rock Funeral Home and a celebration of his life will be held there on Friday, April 13 at 1 p.m. with a service following at 2 p.m. Donations or memorials may be made in his honor to the Patrick Henry Hayes Senior Citizens Center in North Little Rock or to the Civil Air Patrol - Arkansas Wing. Online obituary and guest registry at www.nlrfh.com.