Col. R. Wayne Erwin Jr., age 82, flew his final mission and left this earth on September 17, 2024. Born June 2, 1942 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the beloved son of Marion J. Barber and Roy Wayne Erwin, Sr. He grew up in Carlsbad, New Mexico and graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1964 to begin his thirty-year career in the United States Air Force. He wanted to travel the world, often saying he was born under a wandering star. He was a man who followed his dreams, loved adventures, embraced the possibilities, and always encouraged his family to do the same.

His Air Force career began by taking him only as far as Las Cruces, New Mexico, not quite the adventure he had planned. Fortunately, that job was personnel officer, where he was able to influence his own future by joining the pilot training program, where he became a proud F-4 Phantom pilot. From there the adventures began. He traveled around the world with his family in tow. He served two tours in Thailand, flew with tactical squadrons at Hahn AFB, Germany, Luke AFB, Arizona, and Torrejon, Spain. After eleven years flying jets, he finished his master's degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma and as he said, began to fly a desk. He served with SOUTHCOM at MacDill, Florida, AFCENT in The Netherlands, studied Spanish at the Defense Language Institute, was part of the Strategic Air Command at Bergstrom in Austin, Texas and worked as the Military Group Commander of both Venezuela and Chile.

After he retired from the Air Force, he followed his dream of working with kids. He studied at Southwest Texas State to become a teacher and principal. His education career took him to many Texas towns, from Karnes City to Bovina and ultimately to Odessa. He loved teaching and working with children and became a principal who challenged students to work hard and be better than they thought they could be. His favorite role was leading the Career Training Center there, where he was able to help students enter career paths. When he and his wife were ready to finally retire from education they moved to San Antonio and settled into The Air Force Village at Blue Skies. He was not finished making a difference in people's lives and volunteered with other retired veterans to help with the Wounded Warrior program, Rotary International, Freedom House, and was the Head of the Residence Council at Blue Skies.

He is survived by the love of his life, Jeanine Erwin, their four daughters, Caroline Michelle (DeBenedetti), Catherine Margeret (Erwin-Renfro), Charlene Marie (Albright), and Samantha Jeanine (Abbott) and their families which includes ten grandchildren, Isabella and Sophia DeBenendetti, Ashley and Robert Renfro, Chelsea and Seth Albright, Tanner, Tucker, Sadie and Piper Abbott; and three great-grandchildren, Jaxon, Liliana, and Nicolas Large.

A Committal Service with full Military Honors will be held at 10:15 a.m. on Friday, October 4, 2024 at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. The funeral procession will depart from Blue Skies of Texas - West at 9:15 a.m. to Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery for the Committal Service. A Celebration of Life, followed by a reception, will be held at 1:30 pm at Blue Skies of Texas-West.

Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. Visit www.tondre-guinn.com