Lt. Col. Vernon R. Letourneau Obituary (1930 - 2014)

CHELMSFORD Lt. Col. Vernon R. Letourneau, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), age 84, a longtime resident of Chelmsford, passed away at Lowell General Hospital on Wednesday, November 19, 2014. He was the beloved husband of Margaret A. (Saari) Letourneau with whom he would have celebrated 62 years of marriage in December. He was born in Jaffrey, New Hampshire on March 16, 1930 and was a son of the late Leo and Ila Peggy (Kauppinen) Letourneau. He received his early education in the Jaffrey School System and was a graduate of Conant High School in Jaffrey, NH. He earned his Bachelors Degree from the University of New Hampshire. During his Air Force career he acquired 19,000 flying hours as a command pilot flying transport planes, VIP flights, and medi/vac missions during the Vietnam War. Following his retirement he worked for several real estate firms as a real estate broker in Chelmsford. He was a longtime active member of the Lutheran Church of the Savior in Bedford and volunteered with the churchs Central Food Ministry in Lowell. Vernon was also a member of the Lowell Camera Club and a former member of the Chelmsford Country Club. He enjoyed playing golf and was also a very talented photographer. In addition to his loving wife, Vernon is survived by a grandson Jordan Letourneau of Worcester, UK; a brother-in-law, Edward Saari and his wife Geraldine of Gardner, MA, two sisters-in-law; Mary Lou Letourneau of Keene, NH, and Nancy Saari of Chelmsford, his cousin, Carol Dickey of Lowell; and several nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews. He was predeceased by his sons; Gary Stephen Letourneau and Craig Alan Letourneau, and his brother Norman Letourneau. Visiting hours on Sunday from 6 to 8 pm at the BLAKE FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. Additional visitation on Monday from 9 to 10 am at the Lutheran Church of the Savior, 426 Davis Rd., Bedford, MA followed by his Funeral Service at 10 oclock. Interment on Monday at 2:30 pm in Mountain View Cemetery, Route 12, Troy, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations in Vernons memory may be made to Central Food Ministry, 426 Davis Rd., Bedford, MA 01730. First Visitation November 23, 2014 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Blake Funeral Home 24 Worthen Street Chelmsford, MA 01824 Second Visitation November 24, 2014 9:00am - 10:00am, Lutheran Church of the Savior 426 Davis Road Bedford, MA 01730 Service Information November 24, 2014 10:00am, Lutheran Church of the Savior 426 Davis Road Bedford, MA 01730 Interment Location Mountain View Cemetery Old Whitcomb Road Route 12 Troy, NH 03465 Interment at 2:30 pm.