Col Jerry Ralph Sturm, Usaf (Ret.)

Jerry R. Sturm, 71, entered into rest on Sunday, August 16, 2009.

A Bellington, West Virginia native, he graduated from West Virginia University with a BS in Business Management. During his college career, he was the Mountaineer mascot (1961) and president of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity (1963). He obtained a Master's degree in education and Counseling from Southern Illinois University and completed Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College and the Industrial College of Armed Forces.

Colonel Sturm was commissioned as a second lieutenant at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. During his career, he performed two remote tours in Vietnam and Thailand. One of his key assignments was with the 89th Military Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, with the special aircraft Air Force One. He served as organizational maintenance squadron commander and maintenance control officer. He was the deputy commander for maintenance at Travis Air Force Base, California. At Robins Air Force Base, he served as chief of the Aircraft Division in the Directorate of Material Management (1984) and as Director of Maintenance from 1985 to 1990. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster. After twenty-six years in the armed services, Colonel Sturm retired and served as Director of the Happy Hour Workshop and School for ten years. He was past president and fifteen year active member of the Rotary Club as well as a Master Gardener. He is predeceased by his parents, Harry and Elsie Sturm, brother, Donald Sturm, and sister, Delores Sturm.

His memory will forever be treasured by his wife of forty-two years, Anne Murphy Sturm, Warner Robins; daughters, Elaina Sturm Dance (Mike), Baltimore, Maryland; and Deanna Sturm O'Neal (Woody), Birmingham, Alabama; grandchildren, Madeline, Jack and Ellie James O'Neal, one grandchild (Dance) due next month; aunt, Madge Sturm O'Hara, Dailey, West Virginia; a number of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Thursday, August 20, 2009, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. Funeral services and interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Happy Hour Workshop and School, 802 Young Avenue, Warner Robins GA 31093


Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Rd.
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088