Melvin Gary Alkire

Melvin Gary Alkire                                                                                                  

Major General US Air Force, Retired

Gary was born on October 24, 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio. The family moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1942.

Gary, his brother Bill, and his Mother spent the summers in Kenbridge. It is in Kenbridge that Gary had fond memories of growing up. The shoes came off when the car stopped at grandparent’s home and stayed off till it was time to return to Baltimore on Labor Day. He learned of his Grandfather's strong faith through his daily living and his “preaching” to the farm workers when they stopped in his store on their Saturday day off. He “helped” his Grandmother keep the woodstove hot as she preserved her great jams and jellies; some made their way with the family on the way home. And he thoroughly fit in and enjoyed interaction with the neighbor boys playing baseball, croquet, hide and seek,  bike riding all over the town … and Saturday night singing when his Uncle William came home with his violin and the music started. Over the years, Gary felt that he was from Kenbridge!

He graduated from a challenging high school in Baltimore and entered the US Naval Academy in 1953. Gary graduated from the Naval Academy and select the Air Force for a career in Civil Engineering.

During 32 years in the Air Force he enjoyed challenging assignments at all levels of responsibility including three tours in the Pentagon, assignments in France and Germany, and a year in Vietnam supporting reconstruction of the civilian highway system. In Vietnam he spent considerable time monitoring highway construction and requirements … deciding it was a beautiful country. His final assignment was Commander of the Air Force Commissary Service, responsible for management of 150 commissary stores, worldwide, with annual sales over $2.5 Billion dollars.

The enlisted personnel of the Air Force honored him with award of the Order of the Sword for “Outstanding Support to the Enlisted Corps”. He was the first Air Force Civil Engineer to be so honored and only the 126th person so honored by the Air Force at that time.

During his military career, he received many awards and decorations; the most significant being the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, and the Bronze Star.

In retirement he served as Chairman of the Board and President of Air Force Village, a large retirement community in San Antonio.

He married the former Ellen Hanson of Albert Lea, Minnesota in 1981; together they enjoyed the challenging Air Forces assignments in the United States and overseas. On retirement, they enjoyed many years living in their community, serving their church and community, and enjoying their travel around the world.

Gary passed away in San Antonio, Texas on August 3, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, son David (JoAnn) and daughters Carolyn, Laurie (Lorin), and Debbie; seven grandchildren, and brother William (Alice) Alkire.

Graveside services will be held 11AM Saturday, August 9, 2025 at the Kenbridge Heights Cemetery, Kenbridge, VA at the Gary family plot.