Lt. Col. Karl D. McCormick

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Karl David McCormick

February 5, 1921 – December 7, 2010

      Lt. Col. (Ret.) Karl David McCormick, 89, of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 7, 2010, after a short illness. Col. McCormick lived with his wife of 62 years, Norma Catherine McCormick, at St. Martin’s in the Pines. They had relocated to the Birmingham area in November 2009 to be closer to their eldest daughter, Kristen McCormick Hudak, and her family.

      Col. McCormick was born on February 5, 1921, and was the third eldest child in a family of seven children. When the family business became a victim of the Great Depression, Col. McCormick began to work at the age of 12 after school at the neighborhood grocery store in Akron, Ohio. That experience cemented a work ethic in Col. McCormick that never took a holiday, and that he passed on to his three children – Kristen, Kim McCormick Osmond and Karl McCormick. After graduating from high school, Col. McCormick joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he fell in love with flying and quickly rose through the ranks to become an instructor pilot, training young men to fly during World War II. His travels with the U.S. Air Force took him to Anchorage, Alaska, where he flew as a bush pilot through the Alaskan arctic outback; Okinawa; the Pentagon; and Sumter, South Carolina. He was also stationed in Vietnam during the Tet offensive, and next served at Air Force bases in Del Rio and San Antonio, Texas. After 30 years in the Air Force, Col. McCormick retired and settled with his family, in Universal City, Texas, just outside Randolph Air Force Base where he and his wife Norma lived in the same home for 38 years. Shortly after retiring from the Air Force, Col. McCormick began serving as the Finance Director for the City of Universal City, a position that he held until he retired for a second time, after another 30 years, at the young age of 81.

      Col. McCormick was a compassionate, kind, caring, and frugal man who would do anything for anyone if they needed help. He was most proud of his family and his 62 year marriage with his wife Norma, his service in the Air Force and his work with the City of Universal City. He was patient, generous and understanding and he will be deeply missed by his family and friends. He was a true gentleman, deeply patriotic and a wonderful husband, father and grandfather.

      Col. McCormick is survived by his wife, Norma, of Birmingham, Alabama; his daughter Kristen McCormick Hudak, son-in-law Andrew Hudak and two grandchildren Kathryn and Allison, of Mountain Brook, Alabama; his daughter Kimberly McCormick Osmond, son-in-law Garry Osmond and grandchild Stephanie, of Bainbridge Island, Washington; and his son Karl David McCormick II and daughter-in-law Julia McCormick of Raleigh, North Carolina.

      Services are pending burial at Arlington National Cemetery. Donations in remembrance of Col. McCormick may be made to the American Heart Association.

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