Auldy Franklin Cline, age 85, of Front Royal, Virginia, formerly of Grundy, Virginia, passed away at his home on Monday, June 13, 2016.
Auldy was born February 10, 1931 in Panther, West Virginia. He was the son of the late Edward Cline and Mary Lou Hagy-Cline Bowman. He attended Garden Creek High School in Oakwood, Virginia, and later graduated from the United States Armed Forces Institute in Madison, Wisconsin, where he also received college credits.
Auldy was a U.S. Army veteran during the Korean War. He served with the Transportation Corps as an Amphibian Duck Operator and with the 5th Heavy Trucking Company in Goose Bay Labrador, Newfoundland. He also served with the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific during the Vietnam War and trained as an aircraft maintenance mechanic for the B-26. He was later assigned to the famous 4th Fighter Wing at Chitose Air Force Base in Hokkaido, Japan, where he met and married his late wife, Reiko Ohtsuka Cline in 1956. After returning to the U.S. in 1958, he served with the 27th Fighter Inteceptor Squadron at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. He was later assigned to the 6049th Radar Squadron in Bedford, Virginia. His last assignment was with the 42 Bomb Wing Strategic Air Command at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine. Auldy received several medals during his service and was former Jr. Vice Commander of the Disabled Veterans, Chapters #38 (Front Royal, Virginia) and 9 (Winchester, Virginia). He retired in 1991 from the Commonwealth of Virginia after 28 years of service.
Following retirement, Auldy pursued several interests, including researching family genealogy, gardening, supporting veterans in obtaining needed services, and spending time with friends and family. He was a member of the Marlow Heights Baptist Church.
Preceding him in death in 1983 was his first wife, Reiko Ohtsuka Cline of Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan; brothers Vernon Cline, Wayne Cline, and Bobby Cline, and sister Edna Cline Childress.
Auldy is survived by his two daughters and son-in-law, Connie Grabill of Annapolis, MD, and Patricia and Kim Miller of Front Royal, VA; five grandchildren, Kristen Benito of Warwick, RI, Sean Grabill of Columbia, MD, Rachel Grabill, of Annapolis, MD, Reiko Shinde and Kristofer Miller of Front Royal, VA; two great-grandchildren, Declan and Coralie Benito of Warwick, RI; second wife Brenda Murphy of Winchester, VA; step-sisters, Eva Ward, Irene Boyd, and Goldie McDonald; and step-brothers Elmer, Luther, Roby, and Casby Bowman.
The viewing will be held on Saturday, June 18th from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Maddox Funeral Home, followed by a funeral service at 4:00 p.m. Reverend Jim Bunce will officiate. Burial will follow with full military honors at Prospect Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be George Cline, Kim Miller, Kristofer Miller, Sean Grabill, Richard Williams, and Lee Cockrell. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Marlow Heights Baptist Church Men’s Sunday School Class.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 9 of Winchester, VA, or the Marlow Heights Baptist Church at 517 Braxton Road, Front Royal, VA 22630.