Colonel Lawrence Boggess, 90, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, died May 23, 2024, shortly after a stroke.
Born February 24, 1934, in Estherville, Iowa, to Nolan and Lena Boggess. Larry, the oldest of nine children, grew up in Estherville, graduating from high school in 1952. He went on to Junior College for a while and was then accepted into the Air Force Aviation Cadet program. He joined the Air Force in September 1954. Larry went to Navigation School and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on May 6, 1956. In his flying career, Larry was on a B-47 flight crew at Lincoln AFB, NE.
Larry married and his two sons were born in Lincoln. He volunteered and was accepted into the B-58 program. Assigned to Carswell AFB, TX in 1962, Larry went through B-58 training. Larry then volunteered and was accepted into the SR-71 program. Larry and his family moved to Beale AFB, CA, in February 1966, where he flew in the SR-71 until 1969, at which time his pilot was transferred. Larry then transitioned to the computer business at Beale AFB. The family moved on to Air War College in 1971, and in 1972 he was assigned to Tan San Nuht AFB, Vietnam. When the war ended, he was assigned to NKP Thailand. They divorced while he was overseas. When Larry returned to the US, he and his sons moved to Offutt AFB, NE. Still in the computer field at Offutt, in 1976 Larry met the love of his life, Jan Cole. Larry was moved to DIA in Washington DC in summer 1977. He and Jan married on January 28, 1978, at Offutt AFB. In 1981 Larry was transferred to Dayton, OH for a position with the Foreign Technology Division at Wright-Patterson AFB. On October 1, 1984, Larry retired as a Colonel after 30 years of distinguished service.
He and Jan then moved to Colorado Springs, CO. They built their dream house in 1985 and have lived there ever since. Since retirement he has enjoyed woodworking, gardening, cooking, travel, and keeping their two classic cars working. He and Jan have spent a lot of time traveling the world, mostly on cruise ships.
Larry is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jan Boggess; son Mark Boggess; daughter Joelyn Bissing (Randy); siblings Mary Ellen Sicard, Maureen Haisman, George Boggess (Linda), Marlene Walthart (Larry), William Boggess, and Steven Boggess (Janeen); four beloved grandchildren, Brandon, Lauren, Lindsey, Michael; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents Nolan and Lena Boggess; son Larry Lee Boggess; sister Martha Haigh; and brother John Boggess.
A memorial service will be held at Faith Presbyterian Church, 1529 North Circle Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80909 at 11:30 am on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Larry will be buried in Pikes Peak National Cemetery at a later date.
If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (www.hsppr.org), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (www.cmzoo.org), or Springs Rescue Mission (www.springsrescuemission.org).
