GULF BREEZE, Fla. – Lt. Col. Malcolm O. Colby passed away Dec. 29, 2008, and was a true American hero. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He and his crew, 447th Bomb Group, flew 30 B-17 combat missions over Germany in World War II. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, five Air Medals and numerous Service Medals. He retired from the Air Force in 1966. He was an active member of Model A Ford Club of America Inc., and pursued restoration of his Model A Ford with great skill and expertise. He was a Mason since 1947 and Scottish Rite since 1967. He was born in Bangor, attended Fryeburg Academy and was an esteemed graduate of the University of Maine, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He was predeceased by his wife of 17 years, Jean Eller Colby. He is survived by sons, Richard E. Colby and Frederick M. Colby, both of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; daughters, Elizabeth C. Jones of Annandale, Va., and Lauren L. Carter of Truth or Consequences, N.M.; eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; and sister, Esther Hillman of Bangor. A visitation was held 5-7 p.m. Jan. 1 at Allen Summerhill Funeral Home, Orange City, Fla. Interment was held 1 p.m. Jan. 2 at The National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Covenant Hospice, 5041 North 12th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32504.
MALCOLM O. COLBY
