William "Bill" David Erickson

AIKEN- Colonel William D. “Bill” Erickson (USAF ret.), age 76, died at his home on Tuesday, August 12, 2008. Bill was born on December 30, 1931 in Chicago, the only son of the late Francis and Rose (Posch) Erickson. He attended the University of Illinois and received his Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Omaha after he entered the US Air Force at the age of 21. He was married to Sandra D. Daugherty from Rome, PA on February 19, 1955. Bill became a jet fighter pilot and throughout his military career he flew jet fighters for 21 of his 26 years of service, including 169 combat hours in Vietnam. Upon his military retirement, he moved to Detroit, MI and established AC Express, a successful air freight/trucking business. In 1990 he again retired, moving to Naples, FL, which became his home for 15 years. In 2005, Aiken became his home. Bill was an avid golfer and bridge player and a loving “Pop-Pop” to his grandchildren. He was a member of various military organizations, and an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Aiken, where he served as a Stephen minister. Bill is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sandy, his children W. David Erickson II of Cleveland, OH, Dale E. (Sally) Erickson of Novi, MI, and Diane K. Erickson of Dayton, OH, his seven grandchildren, Trey, Jill, Jay, Paige, Katie, Taylor and Adrian and his sister, Ethel McGuire of Scottsdale, AZ. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00pm on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at the First Presbyterian Church, 224 Barnwell Avenue in Aiken, where a Memorial Service will be held at 2:00pm, officiated by Rev. Dr. David Cozad. Friends are invited to the family home following the Memorial Service. Interment will be held at the Orwell Valley Cemetery in Rome, PA at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bill’s memory to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 224 Barnwell Avenue NW, Aiken, SC 29801 Please visit Bill’s online guest book at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com Shellhouse Funeral Home, Inc., 924 Hayne Ave., Aiken, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William "Bill" David Erickson, please visit our flower store.