Col. Capper departed this earth on July 1 at Hospice of St. Francis, Edward M. Poe Care Center, in the presence of his family.

Col. Capper was born to Chester W. Capper and Lois (Wheaton) Capper on Nov 8, 1934 in Lewiston, Montana. He married his wife of 60 years, Joanne (Moon) Capper on Feb 23, 1957. The couple had two children, Cary W. Capper, Miami, Fl and Carol Lynne Capper, Reinbeck, N. Y. and two grandchildren born: Christian W. Capper and Noah J. Capper, both of Miami, FL. Cal is survived by one sister, Shirley (Capper) Skov of The Dallas, OR.

Cal attended Washington State College for two years, and then entered the AF flight training school in the fall of 1955. After graduation, her chose to fly jets over multi engine, and was assigned to fly F-94’s at Moody AFB, Valdosta, GA. His next assignment was New Castle, DE. This was the time Cal and Joanne were married in Brunswick, GA after meeting there in the wedding of mutual friends. After arriving in New Castle, Cal’s commander told me I need not worry about my husband, when flying because he could fly the boxes they came in! He was right, because during his career he flew every type of aircraft in the AF inventory!

After New Castle, he was selected to check out the new F-106, a fighter supersonic interceptor jet at McGuire AFB. (To protest our Coastline). He flew this jet until he was offered an AFIT assignment to return to school to attain his diploma in petroleum engineering, graduating from the University of Oklahoma. Upon graduation, Cal was reassigned to the fuels division, flying only as a behind the lines pilot. After his first assignment as a base fuels officer at Mtn Home 1D, Cal was sent to Panama (Howard), where he received all fuel for the istkmus. It was in Panama that Cal flew multi engine planes for the first time – C-118’s supporting military groups in South America.

After Panama, Cal was needed in Vietnam in helicopters. He checked out in Arizona as crew commander of the Detachment at Cain Rham Bay for a year assignment.

Back to the states again to fuels at Travis AFB, CA only to be called to the Pentagon to help set up a new department of Energy during the height of the gas shortage. Cal retired from the Pentagon in 1979 to be nearer to his college-bound kids.

Cal worked a few years at P.R.C. at the Cape as liaison engineer for NASA.

Lt. Col Capper was a man of honor. Well liked and respected by all who worked for, with him or over him.

As a family man he will remain in our hearts forever.

A memorial service and tribute to life will be held at Beach Funeral Home in Indian Harbour Beach on July 8th with Chaplain Nathan Colon officiating.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society or Hospice of St. Francis.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Calvin W. Capper, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.