Obituary: Lange, Frederick Charles “Chick” Jr.
Age 88
(Age 88) Major Frederick Charles “Chick” Lange, Jr., USAF, (Ret.
), longtime Pullman resident passed away at his home on Thursday, September 3, 2015.
Funeral services will be held today, 10:00 a.m., at Kimball Funeral Home with Rev.
Nick Nicolai officiating.
A reception will follow at noon at Banyan’s on the Ridge.
Maj. Lange will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Chick was born on October 4th, 1926 in Casper, Wyoming, the third child of Frederick C. and May Louise (Modeland) Lange.
When he was three, his family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and it was in Salt Lake that Chick grew up, attending local schools and graduating from East High School in 1943 at the age of 16.
At age 17, Chick enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Pacific Theatre during the end of World War II.
After his honorable discharge from the Army in 1946, he enrolled at the University of Utah under the GI bill and became a commissioned officer in 1949 through the Air Force ROTC program.
Upon graduation, Chick was transferred to Randolph AFB, San Antonio for Basic Pilot Training and completed his Advanced Pilot Training at Vance AFB in Enid, Oklahoma.
Chick served honorably with the United States Air Force all over the world, including time as an Assistant Professor in the Washington State University AFROTC Program.
He retired from the Air Force on October 1, 1970 as a highly decorated Triple Rated Command Pilot.
Among many of his medals and ribbons were the Distinguished Flying Cross, five Air Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals and the Vietnamese Service Medal with 5 Battle Stars.
Chick married Beverly Jane Matson on September 12, 1950 at the First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City.
Beverly stood by Chick’s side as a military wife for his entire career.
He spoke very highly of his wife and her influence on their two sons, Fred and Bob, of whom Chick was incredibly proud.
After his retirement from the Air Force, Chick and Beverly moved the family back to Pullman where worked for the Men’s Department of the WSU Physical Education Program.
He also piloted a state owned airplane for 12 years that the WSU Athletic Department controlled.
He retired from WSU in 1990 and he and Beverly enjoyed traveling taking many cruises worldwide.
Chick wrote in his obituary notes that his most enjoyable cruise was an Alaska cruise with their sons and spouses and six grandchildren to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
Chick was a lifetime member of the Moscow Elks Lodge, the Pullman American Legion Post and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was a WSU season ticket holder, a member of the Cougar Club, donated to the WSU Foundation and was a member of the WSU President’s Associates.
For 22 years he operated the scoreboard for the WSU home football games.
Additionally, Chick had been a member of various Masonic organizations since 1948 and has been a member of the Whitman Lodge #49 since 1972, serving twice as Master.
He was also a 65 year member of the El Katif Shrine Temple in Spokane.
He served two years as a District Deputy of the Grand Lodge of Washington and is a past Senior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Washington.
Chick is survived by his two sons, Fred K. (Kerry) Lange of Springfield, Virginia and Bob (Laureen) Lange of Eagle, Idaho; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He is also survived by his very dear friend and traveling companion Jan Maguire of Pullman, with whom he formed a very special bond after Beverly’s death in 2005.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Spokane Shriner’s Hospital or to the WSU Foundation.
Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman has been entrusted with arrangements.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kimballfh.com