Roll Call Tribute

Lacy W. Breckenridge, Col. USAF (Ret) 

October 28, 1930 - May 1, 2024 

Graveside services with military honors for Colonel Lacy W. Breckenridge (RET), 93, of Lufkin will be held Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. in the Bennett Cemetery with Reverend Mark A. Newton of First Baptist Church Lufkin officiating.

Colonel Breckenridge was born October 28, 1930 in Sulphur Springs, Texas and took flight to Heaven Wednesday, May 1, 2024. He was the only child of Chester and Essie Naomi Breckenridge. His education included Lufkin High School, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University, and USAF Air War College.

Colonel, then Lieutenant, Breckenridge married Rita Jo Davis on June 12, 1954 while he was in USAF Flight School, after which they enjoyed 24 years of making life long treasured friends in the Air Force while stationed at Reese AFB, Texas, Randolph AFB, Texas, Bergstrom AFB, Texas, Luke AFB, Arizona, Nellis AFB, Nevada, Itazuke Air Base, Japan, Cannon AFB, New Mexico, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, Elgin AFB, Florida, Ubon AFB, Thailand, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, MacDill AFB, Florida, Clark AFB, Philippines, and Langley AFB, Virginia. Lacy also served numerous short unaccompanied tours to Thailand, South Korea, Okinawa, Japan, England, France and Turkey. During those frequent short assignments, Rita was a courageous warrior maintaining a stable home plus serving the functions of Lacy to their three sons.

Notable assignments included 4.5 years as an Air Staff Officer at the Pentagon, Deputy Wing Commander for Operations, 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, MacDill AFB, Florida, Inspector General and Vice Wing Commander, Wing Commander, and 3rd Tactical Wing Commander, Clark Air Base, Philippines when South Vietnam was overrun by North Vietnam. The Breckenridges, along with all military personnel and their families, assisted all base organizations in providing shelter, food, medical and psychological support to over 10,000 evacuees that arrived almost overnight.

Colonel Breckenridge was primarily a jet fighter pilot and instructor pilot flying the F-100 Super Sabre and F-4 Phantom II. In those aircraft, he utilized in-flight air refueling crossing the Atlantic eight times and the Pacific four times. His awards and decorations included Air Force Command Pilot Wings, US Army Parachute Badge, Silver Star, Distinguised Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 9 Clusters, Four National Defense Meritorious Service Medals, Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal, Air Force Expert Marksman awards among others. During his combat tour, he was rescued by an Air Force helicopter crew after his F-4 was shot down on his 49th bombing mission, after which he went on to complete over 100 combat missions over North Vietnam. He maintained that the true heroes of the Vietnam war were the pilots and crews who flew the slow helicopters at low altitudes and taking small arms fire from enemy forces as they located targets and rescued downed pilots. Colonel Breckenridge was a life member of the Daedalians, a national fraternity of military pilots, the Air Force Association, Red River Fighter Pilots Association, F-100 Super Sabre Society, Lufkin Senior Kiwanis, and First Baptist Church Lufkin’s Barnabas Sunday School Class.

After serving 24 years in the Air Force, Colonel Breckenridge served 17 years as a Corporate Jet Pilot for Temple-Inland flying their Falcon 50, Westwind and Cessna 500.

Colonel Breckenridge was a Christian, a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved to be with his family and participate in church functions. Until he lost his hearing, he served as a Deacon and was a member of one of the church’s money counting teams. Golf was his favorite sport. When they lived in Alexandria, Virginia and their oldest son became old enough to join the Boy Scouts, there was a waiting list of 35 boys in his area. With the help of other fathers then Lt./Colonel Breckenridge organized and established a new Boy Scout troop for all those boys and eliminated the waiting list.

Survivors include his sons, Reverend Dr. Robert K. Breckenridge and wife Cynthia Denise and son, Robert Wells, all of Chester, Virginia; Jeffrey Alan and wife Deidra Ann and children, David Austin with wife Addison of Bryan, Texas; son, Scott Alan of San Antonio, Texas; daughter, Melissa Ann of Fort Worth, Texas; daughter-in-law, Susan Elaine Breckenridge of Willis, Texas with son, Benjamin and daughter, Lacy Elaine and husband Andrew Geiser. Also, Mrs. Pat Covington of New Port News, Virginia and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Gerland of Lufkin.

Lacy was preceded in death by his wife, Rita Jo (Davis) on May 2, 2023; and their youngest son, Stephen Robin, at age 52, who died of COVID 19 in 2021. Lacy and Rita were also preceded in death by both parents, plus her sister, Mary Glee and her husband Guy Barrett.

Pallbearers will be Deacons of First Baptist Church Lufkin. Honorary pallbearers will be Stephen Steed, General Chris Adams, and Colonel Robert “Pat” Barry.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com. 

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.