Date of Birth:
Wednesday, April 6, 1927
Date of Death:
Friday, February 10, 2017
Age:
89 years old

Dr. Lloyd Maxon

Dr. Lloyd Maxon, 89, beloved Daddy, Grandpa, brother, uncle and pioneer Air Force educator, passed away February 10, 2017 in Wichita Falls, Texas.  Lloyd’s Funeral Mass will be held 11:00am at Christ the King Catholic Church in Byron, Minnesota on Friday, February 17^th under the direction of Byron Funeral Home.  The visitation will be from 9:30am until the time of the service at the church on Friday.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery with Military Honors provided by American Legion, Post 92.

Lloyd, the youngest son of Thomas and Mildred (Haight) Maxon’s eight children was born in Pine Island in April 1927.   Growing up in a large family during the 1930’s Depression, Lloyd dedicated himself to academic excellence and to helping with family expenses by working numerous part-time jobs including farm and garden work; making cheese at the town’s factory; assisting the local doctor in his office; and running the movie projector at Pine Island’s theater. He and twin brother, Floyd, were drafted into World War II on their 18^thbirthdays. Lloyd joined the Army and was sent to Japan to work in a support unit for General Macarthur’s Tokyo headquarters.

Following his honorable discharge as a Tech Sergeant in 1947, Lloyd attended the University of Minnesota in hopes of becoming a surgeon.  On a weekend job, his hand was cut severely in a lumber mill accident so he decided to become a teacher.  He transferred to Rochester Junior and Winona State Teachers College. He met and married Margaret Dee in 1949 and graduated with his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1950.

Lloyd began working as a teacher in Civil Engineering  courses at F.E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming in November 1950.  He received his Masters of Education in 1956.  When Warren AFB was turned into a missile base in 1958, the technical training courses were moved to Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls.

While at Sheppard, Lloyd taught Civil Engineering and Missile program classes and became a supervisor in the Plans and Evaluations Branch.  While still working full-time at the base, Lloyd drove over 61.000 miles roundtrip on nights and weekends to attend North Texas State University.  “Doc” Maxon graduated with his PhD in Education in June 1970.  Using his degree and contacts, Lloyd served on several inspection teams for the South Association of Colleges and Schools and he developed a plan to allow Air Force technical courses to receive college credits.  This led to the founding of the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) which has allowed tens of thousands of Air Force personnel to advance their academic and professional lives over the past four and one-half decades.  Lloyd was awarded the “Supervisor of the Year” award in 1984 and received numerous other awards before his retirement from Sheppard in February, 1996.

Lloyd served his church throughout his life.  He was a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace parish; was a member of the 4^th Degree of the Knights of Columbus, taught Bible school classes for 14 years and was a member of the first school board of Notre Dame High School in Wichita Falls.   He was also a Scout Master for Troop 138 of the Boy Scouts of America and received their Silver Beaver award.

Lloyd took special pride in supporting his children and grandchildren’s activities;  serving as a judge in speech tournaments; coaching Little League Baseball teams; taking his children and grandchildren on trips to national parks  and historical sites.  He was able to amaze them with quick answers to History, Math and Literature questions on the “Jeopardy” quiz show that he enjoyed watching with them and actively supported them in obtaining college educations.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his spouse; parents; brothers, Milton, Roy, Verne and Floyd (all World War II veterans), Harrold and sister Bertha.  He is survived by his sister Arlene Pike of Austin, Minnesota;  daughter Donna Maxon and son James Maxon of Wichita Falls; granddaughters Rachael Maxon of Iowa City, Amanda and Jennifer Maxon of Denton, Texas: Anna Maxon of New Braunfels, Texas; grandson Joshua Maxon of Denton, Texas; sister-in-law Loretta Maxon of Rochester, Minnesota; brothers-in-law Ralph  Kuisle of Byron Minnesota and Ray Dee and Stanley Dee of Rochester, Minnesota; and numerous nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

If desired, memorials may be made to Pine Island History Center.