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WILLIAMSBURG - William V. Lassen (Bill) died Thursday, Oct. 9, in Williamsburg after a long illness at the age of 80. He resided in Lanexa, Va., for the last 14 years, former residence of Virginia Beach, Va. He was a native of Bloomfield, N.J., born Feb. 14, 1928, the son of Clara and Frederick Lassen, brother of Doris Steinbracher. After graduation from Bloomfield High school in 1946, Bill enlisted in the Navy, attending Seton Hall University under the Flying Midshipman (V-5) program, receiving his pilots wings and commission in 1950. He was then assigned to Attack Squadron 15 (VA-15) flying AD-4 from the decks of the carriers Oriskany, Coral Sea, Leyte, Wasp, and Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1950-1954. From 1954-1957 he was assigned as a flight instructor with the Advanced Training Command and taught fighter pilot students at NAAS Kingsville, Texas, flying F6F Hellcats, T-28 Trojans and later TV-2 and F9F-2 &5 aircraft. From 1957-1960, Bill was assigned as catapult and arresting gear officer aboard the USS Antietam, flying T-28, AD-5, SNB-5, TV-2 and SF-1 aircraft. In 1962 through 1963 he attended the Command and Staff course at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. This was followed by assignment as Flight Test Officer for the Bureau of Weapons at the North American Aviation Corp. at Columbus, Ohio. During this time, Bill flew a special coast to coast photographic mission for the Smithsonian Institute. After obtaining rank of Commander USN in 1965, Bill was assigned to the Joint Task Force Two at Sandia Army Base, Albuquerque, N.M., as a reconnaissance test designer receiving a Joint Commendation Medal. From 1968 to 1976, Bill was assigned to the Naval Safety Center at Norfolk, Va., where he served as officer in charge of Life Support Equipment including ejection systems. He retired from Naval Service after 30 years in 1976 having flown 4868 hours with 416 carrier landings. Bill married Margaret Brady of Glen Ridge, N.J., in 1950, but sadly lost her to multiple sclerosis in 1974. Bill is survived by their two children, William Lassen Jr. of Hertford, N.C., and Beth Hancock of Virginia Beach, Va. Bill married Viola F. Alexander of Virginia Beach in 1993 and together they relocated to Lanexa, Va., and enjoyed retirement boating on Diascunt Creek and playing tennis, even competing together in the Golden Olympics. They enjoyed many summer vacations in Emerald Isle, N.C., with their combined families. Bill is survived by his wife, Vi, as well as stepchildren, Kathleen Oliver of Cumberland, Va., Caroline King of Baton Rouge, La., Kristine Jarquin of Nashville, Tenn., Robert Alexander of Yorktown, Va., Cherie Witt of Crozet, Va., and Kim Alexander of Phelan, Calif. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren. Bill was a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and the Tidewater MG 'T classic sports car club. Services will be performed at 10 a.m., Oct. 11, at Nelsen Funeral Home in Williamsburg, Va. Burial will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at Arlington National Cemetery. Bill, wishing you fair skies and calm winds on your next mission. We'll save a cigar for you! On-line condolences may be registered at www.nelsencares.com. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks. |
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