Alan Falkenburry

Alan D. Falkenburry, a proud veteran who flew sixty combat and two hundred and sixty combat support missions to include Operations Southern Watch, Allied Force, and Enduring Freedom, passed away on May 22, 2023 with his loving wife by his side. He was born at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC on August 14, 1962. He moved around with his family, spending some of his childhood in Germany. Eventually he settled in Cross City, FL where he graduated high school in 1980 and immediately enlisted in the Air Force. With an aptitude for languages, Al entered the Vietnamese Cryptologic Linguist course at DLI and became a Cryptologic Linguist for the Air Force. He later cross-trained as a German Linguist and then finished his twenty-two-year military career as an Arabic Cryptologic Linguist. He was knowledgeable in cultural, political, and military areas of study for over twenty countries.

The military recognized Al for his honorable service with a Meritorious Service Medal in 2002 for service during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle; an Air Force Commendation Medal in 2000 for service during Balkan and Iraqi Operations; an Air Force Achievement Medal in 1999 for outstanding performance during Operation Desert Fox; and numerous Aerial Achievement Medals. After retirement in 2002, Al found his work family with Northrop Grumman and Peraton as a Data Analyst.

Al is survived by his wife Cheryl; his children Laura Hymel, Jack Parkinson, and Nicole Falkenburry; and three adorable grandchildren as well as three of his siblings David Falkenburry, Randall Goergen, and Leila Crumrine. He will be remembered for his quick wit, sarcasm, his grill master skills, and his unending devotion to his family. He coached Little League Baseball and was a Boy Scout and Webelos Leader all in between flying long flights for the Air Force. His youngest Nicole was sure he was Santa Claus since he was gone every Christmas, flew, and it was a secret where he went. Later Al dressed as Santa for Zoom calls with his grandkids during Covid, making Nicole's assumptions way back as a three year old finally come close to reality.

Al was a private man and requested that any memorials be kept small. He wanted his family to sit around a bon fire he built and raise a glass of his Tullamore Dew to toast his life, so that is what we will do to quietly honor this wonderful husband, father, and all-around great man.