Colonel John Ben Bomar, USAF, retired

“To Live in hearts we leave behind Is not to die.”
from Hallowed Ground, Thomas Campbell, 1825

Colonel John Ben Bomar, Jr, USAF, retired, passed away March 23, 2011, in San Antonio, Texas. He was born on August 9, 1942, in Orlando, Florida, to Mildred and John Ben Bomar.

John graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Alabama, joined the Air Force, and went on to obtain a master’s degree and PhD in biomedical engineering at the University of Texas. He then taught at the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado as an associate professor in the science department, and later was stationed at the School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base. In 1982 he was chosen for the exchange program with the Royal Air Force at the Institute of Aviation Medicine in Farnborough England.

John served the country he loved with great pride and in his 26 years of active duty, he received numerous awards for his work in bioenvironmental engineering (including on-board oxygen generating systems), and was a decorated patriot. After his retirement from the military, John joined Biodynamic Research Corporation for which he worked until his death. In both careers John enjoyed daily challenges, especially those involving computers. His work was impeccable and he had many research articles published in his fields of expertise. He was a brilliant thinker, an insatiable learner, and a dedicated mentor.

When not working, John’s passion was nature, especially when combined with another hobby at which he excelled, photography (hummingbirds were very special favorites). As early as 1975, John won an award for nature photography, and more recently received another from Coastal Living Magazine. John had an adventurous spirit and took many trips to locations worldwide including Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Galapagos, Greece, Turkey, and (closer to home) Texas, Colorado, and North Carolina. Upon his return, he would share these treasures with friends and fans in his trip reports posted on his web site John Bomar Nature Photography (www.johnbomar.com).

John had many other interests including interests gardening, cooking, camping, hunting, fishing and an occasional brew. His greatest delight was spending time with his friends, family, and his beloved grandchildren.

John was witty and fun. He had an indomitable spirit that was clearly demonstrated when he overcame a brain tumor and a six month coma ten years ago and went on to lead a productive life that touched and blessed many.

John was preceded in death by his parents, and Bird. He is survived by his daughter, Jessica Doyle, her husband Shannon, and their three children, Jonathan, Maddie, and Amalee; his sister Lenn Jackson and her husband Charles; his sister Ann Lacy; his brother Roy; neices Karen and Kate; nephews Gary, Drew and John Ben; and great nephews Charlie, Jackson, Brooks and Sam. His extended family includes Paula Bomar, and Kristen Fox, her husband Rick and children Justin, Morgan and Reagan. And, of course, Maxine.

John’s greatest legacy is that he was and will be loved so dearly by his family, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held at 11:30 am on Friday, April 1, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, with the Reverend Russell Page officiating. Honorary pallbearers include Jonathan Doyle, Gary Jackson, Drew Lacy, John Ben Lacy, Richard Harding, Rich Miller, Jim Raddin, and Russ Burton. A celebration service honoring John will be held at 7 pm the same day, at Porter Loring Funeral Home, 2102 North Loop 1604 East @ Gold Canyon Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78232. Following the service a Wake will be hosted by Richard and Letisha Harding.

John’s family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations should be made in his memory to
the Audubon Society (http://support.audubon.org/).

“During all these years there existed within me a tendency to follow Nature in her walks”
John James Audubon