HURD, Peter M., 79, Houlton, Dec. 16, 2015. 
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Sat. June 4 at the First Baptist Church on Court Street in Houlton. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, Houlton.
HOULTON — Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) USAF, 79, of Houlton, Maine, passed away on December 16, 2015, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Peter was surrounded by family at the time of his passing at an assisted care facility in Ormond Beach, FL. Peter was the loving husband of Alma Jean (Dwyer) Hurd of Orient, ME, for 61 and a half years. He was born on November 19, 1936 in Houlton, the son of the late Norman Arthur and Frances Vivian (Mansfield) Hurd, and preceded in death by his sister, Beverly (Hurd) Euerle and his grandson, Peter James Lannan.
Peter grew up in Houlton, graduating from Houlton High School in 1954. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Parks Air College in St. Louis, MO and Masters Degree in Business Administration from George Washington University in Washington, DC.
“Pete”, as friends and family called him, was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1957, assigned as an Electronic Warfare Officer on B-52 bombers with the Strategic Air Command and RC-135s of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. In 1968-69 he served his country in Vietnam with Detachment 1, MACV-SOG /Special Operations Group, First Flight Squadron flying covert missions in the highly modified C-123K earning him the wings of “Air Commando”.
Pete retired from the USAF with Master Navigator Wings in 1979, after his assignment to the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, after 22 years of honorable service to his country.
His military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Out-standing Unit Award with Valor, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Pete was an avid Advanced Amateur “Ham” Radio Operator for over 65 years, making contact by Morse code and sharing friendship’s with thousands of Ham’s, with the call signs of W1AZM and N1SS.
He was a Free Mason with the Masonic Lodge 22 in Alexandria, VA and Masonic Temple 96 in Houlton.
After retirement, Pete returned to Houlton as a Defense contractor with Detachment 2, “Big Safari” program and later taught students at the Greater Houlton Christian Academy about Aviation and Amateur “Ham” Radio.
Peter is survived by his loving wife, Alma Jean and his four children, Gordon Mansfield & Sonjia Hurd, Andrea Jean & Tim Lannan, Steven Charles & Donna Hurd and Wendy Ann & Chris Pugh. He always enjoyed and loved his grandchildren, Charles, Christina & Josh, Christopher & Emmy, Corey, Devin & Sarah, Holly & Mike, Jeffry, Joel, Nicholas & Brittany, Peter, Samantha & Ryan, Stephanie & Ryan, and Tiffany & Zac; 15 great grandchildren, Addison, Ainsley, Arryn, Ashton, Bailey, Brody, Carley, Carter, Harper, Hudson, Jacob, Kaylee, Kinsley, Matthew and Megan.
Memorial service will be held 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 4 at the First Baptist Church, Court Street, Houlton.Interment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery with full Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be made in Pete’s name to the “Wounded Warrior Project” at PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to the Alzheimer’s Association Maine Chapter, 383 US Route 1, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074. For an online memory book and to leave condolences please visit www.bowersfuneral.com.
