William Yates Irvin

LCDR, William Yates Irwin, age 95 of Gainesville passed away on Thursday April 05, 2018 at his residence of 32 years following an extended illness.

Funeral services are scheduled for Sunday April 08, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Sunday April 08, 2018 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

William was born on February 01, 1923 in Chester, Pennsylvania to the late William Yates Irwin and Ivonne Chevrey Irwin. He was raised in Westminster, Maryland. He went to Fork Union Military Academy, which is the Naval Reserves, and then he went onto Georgia Tech where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering.   LCDR, William Y. Irwin, USNR, Retired Veteran served in the Navy as a Fighter Pilot in World War II. He served in the Fighter Squadron 91, and was also Naval Casualty.

He flew The Steerman (training plane), he also flew The Wildcat, The Fury and The Hellcat. As a fighter pilot LCDR, Irwin, shot down several Japanese Planes and at one point he luckily dropped a bomb down a smokestack of a small Japanese ship and sunk it. After World War II, LCDR, Irwin, joined BOEING, in New Orleans as part of the space program. He was instructor engineer for missiles that they tested and shot off. Mr. Irwin was then called back into service as a Flight Instructor in the Vietnam War.

Throughout his prestige naval experience he received multiple awards and medals, including a Distinguished Flying Cross. He completed 14 years and 28 days of satisfactory federal service as of June 30, 1965 as the title of LCDR, Irwin, USNR-RET. Our Country owes this honorable veteran a great deal of gratitude and respect. 

He is preceded in death his parents, wife, Betty D. Irwin of 48 years of Marriage, daughter, Carolyn “Carol” Irwin, and sister, Silvia Elizabeth Irwin. 

Mr. Irwin is survived by his grand-daughter, Alexandria N. Irwin of Gainesville, great-grandchildren, Felicity C. Irwin and Braxton Y. Irwin of Gainesville, brother, Richard Irwin of New York, and son, Walter Irwin of Iowa. 

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com