Johnnie F. “Fred” Wilcher, 74, of Venice, FL, died November 11, 2004, at his home. He had been ill with a chronic lung disease.

He was born July 7, 1930, in Shallowater, TX, the third of nine children of Emery and Jetty Gross Wilcher. The family migrated from Oklahoma and Texas to Porterville, CA during the “Dust Bowl” era in the 1930s.

In 1947 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. In 1949 he married Carolyn Woltkamp. He served in Korea from 1951 to 1952, at Castle AFB, CA, and in Chateroux, France where his family accompanied him for three years. He had been in supplies, but after attending IBM computer school at Offutt AFB in Omaha, NE, he was able to fulfill a dream and work on supply systems and computers. This network knowledge earned him the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal for service as an analyst supervisor. In 1963 the family moved with him to Guam and he served during the Vietnam War.

He retired from the Air Force in 1968 and accepted a position with Dade County Schools Systems in Miami, FL. He worked in supply for the third largest school district in the U.S. In 1993 he retired and he and Carolyn moved to Venice, FL.

Survivors are his wife Carolyn of the home; a son, John of Venice, FL; two daughters, Betty Wolfer of Venice and Catherine Briggs of Portland, OR; three brothers, Earl of Visalia, CA, and Robert and Dick of Kingman, AZ; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son Dennis in November of 1992, and a sister Leota Johnson.

A graveside inurnment service with military honors will be held at 1:30 PM Friday, May 20, at Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery in Seneca, KS. Full military honors will be provided by Whiteman AFB of Knob Noster, MO, the American Legion Earl W. Taylor Post #21 of Seneca, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Seneca Memorial Post #7458.

Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca is in charge of arrangements.