Colonel Sherman William Bear

Colonel Sherman William Bear, U.S. Air Force Retired, of Wasilla, Alaska, passed away on May 11,2024 from brain cancer. He was born in York, Pennsylvania on October 5, 1939 to Paul and Urgie Bear and graduated from Lemoyne’s West Shore High School in 1957. He attended Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania, graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Mathematics, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1961. Completing pilot training in 1962, he spent the next 29 years serving as a C-130 pilot and unit commander of the 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, the 34th Tactical Airlift Training Group, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, and the 6594th Test Group, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. During his career, Colonel Bear served on the Air Staff at the Pentagon, completed a 15 month combat tour in Vietnam, and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. While on active duty, he graduated from the Air War College and received two masters’ degrees: a Masters of Science, Systems Management, University of Southern California, and a Masters of Business Administration for Aviation, Embry-Riddle University. He retired from active duty in 1991 with 9000 hours pilot experience and started up Bear Air, an air taxi service in Wasilla, Alaska. He also spent five years with the Alaska Small Business Development Center as the Rural Director and business counselor where he presented seminars, training, and counseling to rural Alaskan entrepreneurs. Colonel Bear fully retired in 2006. Colonel Bear is survived by his wife of 62 yrs. Margaret, son, Sherman Jr, daughter, Virginia, granddaughter Jordan, and great granddaughter, Lola A private ceremony will take place with his cremated remains and a celebration of life will be held in the summer at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Wounded Warrior Project or Family Promise Mat-Su in Wasilla, Alaska.