William Guy McNabb, Jr.

William Guy McNabb, Jr., age 78 of Yellow Springs, passed away Sunday, January 13, 2019.  He was born August 21, 1940 in Kittanning, PA, the son of William, Sr. and Dolly (Sanko).  William served his country in the US Air Force and followed with a career in civil service at Wright-Patterson AFB as a photo interpreter, retiring in 1993 after over 34 years of combined federal service.Bill was a graduate of Wright State University, being the first in his family to obtain a college degree.He was an avid private pilot and flight instructor at airports throughout southern Ohio but most notably at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base Aero Club and at Dayton Wright Bros. Airport, still flying and teaching well into his 70s. When he wasn’t in the air, he was taking photos (often from the air), hunting deer or fishing with his fellow Sugar Shackers, (where he was affectionately known as “Mac” or “#3”).As an amateur radio operator, WD8SAY held numerous chairman roles for the annual Dayton Hamvention and was the show’s General Chairman in 1988 and 1989. Bill was a founding member of the Aviation Trail and was instrumental in helping save the original Wright brothers bicycle shop on South Williams Street as well the Hoover Block Building in Dayton next to the Wright Cycle Co., which later became the Aviation Trail Visitor’s Center and houses the Dave Gold Parachute Museum today.He was a proud member of the Quiet Birdmen and a longtime member of the Enon VFW Post 8437.He was preceded in death by his father and stepmother, William “Bud”, Sr. and Della McNabb; mother and stepfather, Dolly and Dave Hutchinson; mother-in-law and father-in-law Charles and Edna Crawford and grandparents, Margie (Butler) and Michael Sanko; Emma (Rosenberg) McNabb.  Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Laura; two daughters, Laura “Michele” Tyler and husband Richard “Rod”, Hillary Dawn Foose and husband Daniel; three grandchildren, Tiffany, Tabitha, and Travis Tyler; a brother, Robert McNabb; as well as numerous other extended family and friends. 

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