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- The Lebanon Democrat, Tennessee, Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Col Bernie Sanford Bass
Services for Col. Bass will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, from sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, Lebanon with the Rev. Megan Ritchie officiating. Interment with military honors will be 1 p.m. Wednesday in Gordonsville Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. at Ligon and Bobo Funeral Home and at the church one hour before the funeral service.
Col. Bass, 91, died Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at Saint Thomas Hospital. Born at New Middleton, Tenn., the son of Linnie Gibbs and James Lillard Bass Sr., he graduated from Gordonsville High School, from Morgan School in Petersberg, Tenn., from Cumberland University and from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va. with an advanced degree in American history. He was a Christian and proud of his service to his country. He and his wife, Mary Helen were married on Aug. 30, 1945 in her hometown Methodist Church of Perry, Fla. They were subjected to many separations due to military assignments including 16 months duty in Korea and Japan in 1953-1954 and 12 months duty in South Vietnam in 1969-1970, and innumerable temporary duty assignments.
He volunteered for the US Army Air Forces as an aviation Cadet in September 1941 and was commissioned a 2nd LT., and awarded pilots wings in April 1942. During World War II, he flew two combat tours: in French Morocco, Tunisia, Pantelleria, and Sicily in Curtiss P-40 aircraft, and France and Germany in Republic P-47 aircraft, completing 114 combat missions. Following the war he returned to college and later was an instructor at Castle Heights Military Academy. Recalled to active duty in 1951, he served in the United States, Korea, Japan, France, England, and South Vietnam. He was squadron commander of North American F-100 equipped squadrons at Cannon AFB, Clovis, NM, at Chaumont Air Base, France, and RAF Lakenheath, England.
He served as Base Commander at RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge Air Bases, England, and Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. Following a tour of duty as Director, United States Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, he retired on Nov. 1, 1976 with 30 years, 5 months active duty service to his country. Awards and decorations include Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and Air Medal with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters. In retirement, he returned to Castle Heights Military Academy as an instructor.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Lebanon, and served as Deacon, Elder, Sunday School leader and teacher. He was a former Trustee of Cumberland University, and Chairman, Wilson County Library Board, member of the Order of Daedalians, P-40 Warhawk Pilots Association, P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association, American Legion, VFW, Charter member of the Air Force Association, and a Rotarian. He was an honorary member of the Noncommissioned Officers Association of America, and of the Ohio Chapter POW/MIA.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Mary Helen Whitfield Bass; his parents; brother, Paul; and infant sister, Cara Duncan.
Survivors include: children, Ronald Dennis Bass of Washington, D.C., Cara Bass (Robert) Chipkevich of Lebanon and Mark Duncan (Ronda) Bass of St. Charles, Mo.; grandchildren, Benjamin (Mindy) Chipkevich of Memphis, Mary Ann Chipkevich of Lebanon, Stephanie Bass of St. Charles and Sgt. Scott Duncan Bass, U.S. Army, stationed in Afghanistan; brother, James (Erma) Bass of Carthage; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, the New Middleton United Methodist Church, or a charity of your choice.
Pallbearers will be Benjamin Chipkevich, James Robert, Paul Daniel, David and William Bass, Gordon Bone and Jerry Hunt.
Honorary pallbearers will be Sgt. Scott Bass, Teamon Agee, New Middleton, Rodney Ahles, Robert C. Bone, Stratton Bone, Betty Clay, Carol Dedman, James L. Fletcher, Chestnut Mound, George Harding, Glen C. Holder, San Antonio, Texas, Jack Howard, Stephen J. King, La Mesa, Calif., J.B. Leftwich, Herb Simmons, Franklin, N.C., John E. Stephens, and Ruling Elders of First Presbyterian Church.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1919 - 2010 (91 years)
d. 19 May 1953, New Middleton, Smith County, Tennessee