Lt. Col. Raphael A. “Mac” McHarry, USAF (ret.) died April 20, 2005, at Shukshan Healthcare Center in Bellingham where he had lived for the past three years. He was 92, born April 4, 1913, in Newton, Kan.

Mac’s passion for flying started at an early age, and he received his private pilot’s license when he was 17. He was an early barnstormer, flying over Kansas hayfields in a Curtis Jenny. Mac graduated from high school in Chanute, Kan. He met his high school sweetheart, Virginia Lassman, at a dance in Humboldt, Kan. They were married in 1936. Their daughter Carol Ann was born in Chase, Kan.

Mac built up his hours to get his transport commercial rating. He became a flight instructor and joined the Army Air Corps. Mac was called to active duty when World War II began. He was sent to New Guinea where he flew combat missions with the 5th Air Force, 55th Troop Carrier Squad in the C-46 and C-47. He also flew the B-17 as well as many other aircraft. He was wounded, sent to Australia for hospitalization, and returned home in 1944.

For several years, he ran a flight school in Bartlesville, Okla., and then was recalled to active duty in 1948. He was stationed at Shepherd Air Force Base, Texas, then to Hamilton Air Force Base, Calif., in 1951. From there he went to Nagoya, Japan, and Goose Air Force Base, Labrador, retiring in 1966.

Mac and Virginia settled in San Diego in 1968 where Mac instructed flying and also managed an almond grove. After Virginia’s death in 1984, Mac moved to Bothell in 1991 to live with his daughter Carol and her husband Rev Allender. He moved to Oak Harbor in 1992 and lived there until he moved to Shuksan Healthcare in Bellingham in the fall of 2002. He was a member of Oak Harbor VFW Post No. 7392.

Mac (Papo) is survived by his daughter Carol and husband Rev Allender of Oak Harbor; three granddaughters, Deborah and husband Larry Johnstone of Edmonds, Lori and husband Jeff Nemes of Spokane and Janet and husband Meshak Drew of Bellingham. He is also survived by his four great-grandsons.

Memorial service was held April 29 at Shuksan Healthcare Center in Bellingham. Burial was held May 3 at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent with full military honors.

Memorials in Mac’s name may be made to Shuksan Eden Fund at Shuksan Healthcare Center, 1530 James St., Bellingham, WA 98225.