William E. ""Bill" Oberholtzer III, 75, of Annapolis, died Aug. 27 at the Mandrin Hospice House in Harwood from complications of prostate cancer.
Mr. Oberholtzer was born in Los Angeles on Dec. 14, 1931. A Navy junior, he entered the Naval Academy in 1950, graduated in the Class of 1954, and undertook flight training.
He was one of the first in his class to be trained as a jet pilot and one of the first to earn his wings. He was then assigned to an F7U Cutlass squadron. He later transitioned to the FJ-4 Fury.
He left the Navy in 1958 to pursue other endeavors on the West Coast and Alaska, but was recalled in 1961 and flew the A3D until his release from active duty in 1965.
Subsequently, Mr. Oberholtzer became a pilot with American Airlines, rising to captain in the mid to late 1970s.
In 1980, while cruising on his boat, the Billiken, with his family, he suffered a severe brain aneurysm which ended his flying career and necessitated his disability retirement.
He remained in Annapolis and was an active member of the Annapolis Yacht Club, the Annapolitan Club and the Naval Academy Alumni Association.
The son of the late Capt. William E. Oberholtzer Jr., Class of 1926, and Lorene Oberholtzer, he is survived by his former wife, Cindy Oberholtzer of Santa Barbara, Calif.; his sister, Vilma Hurt of Coronado, Calif.; three daughters, Joy Oberholtzer of Salt Lake City, Utah, Tracy Grant of Loveland, Colo., and Paula Oberholtzer of La Jolla, Calif.; his son, Derek Oberholtzer of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; and two grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Naval Academy Foundation, 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402. Arrangements are by Taylor Funeral Home.
Inurnment will be at the Naval Academy Columbarium at 10 AM on Tuesday, 25 Septemeber..
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