Wayne H. Nixon

On May 5, 2018 Wayne H. Nixon, formerly of Madison, Waterville, and Tremont Maine, passed away after a brief illness at his home in Florida. He was the son of William J. and Velma P. Nixon of Madison. His grandparents were Leslie and Bertha Graham and James D. Hannon all of Madison.

He served in the United States Air Force from 1953 to 1973. His last duty assignment was as a Flight Engineer/Flight Examiner with the 18th Military Airlift Squadron and was a Combat Mission Select Lead Crew Flight Engineer/Flight Examiner. He flew 76 combat missions in Vietnam, and it was the lead Flight Engineer in the movement of the 101st Airborne Division Combat Staff into Vietnam.

He was selected to participate in Operation Deep Freeze the American Scientific Endeavor in Antarctica for which he received the Antarctic Service Medal.

As a member of the 41st Military Airlift Squadron Flight Operations he developed a more effective and efficient method of tracking the movement of the air crews assigned to the 41st Military Airlift Squadron, which was adopted by the Military Airlift Wing.

In January 1969, he was selected to be a Flight Engineer on the Wing Commanders Aircraft.

Prior to becoming a Flight Engineer, he was a member of the Strategic Air Command, where he served as a Master Crew Chief on the B47E and B52G jet bombers. As a Master Crew Chief, he set two Strategic Air Command records, which are recorded at the United States Air Force Enlisted Airman's Museum.

He was an original member of Operation Tryout, which was the testing and development of the means of launching of the Strategic Air Command bomber's alert force.

In 1957, he was named Airmen of the year of the 38th Air Division, an award which was presented to him by General Paul Tibbett, who was the pilot who dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

At the end of his Air Force career, he had flown more than 8,000 hours, and had flown around the world three times, and visited 86 countries. His awards and decorations are too numerous to list.

After retirement from the United States Air Force,. he took a civil service exam scoring 99.6. With total points of 109.6, he accepted employment with the United States Postal Service. He rose to the position of Supervisor of Mails. He then became Postmaster of Strong, Maine later Anson Maine, and retired in 2000 as Postmaster of Bass Harbor Maine. During his postal career, he was also the Officer in charge of China Maine and Hallowell Maine. He was a Post Master Trainer and was Postal Systems Coordinator (A) of all Northern District of Maine.

He was a member of Chapter 29 of the National Association of Postmasters of the United States. As a Postmaster representative, he made several trips to Washington DC as an advocate of Postal Reform.

He was a member of Waterville Masonic Lodge #33, and was a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight Templar, 32nd degree Mason, a member of Anah Shrine Temple of Bangor Maine, and was life member of Cryptic Masons, International. He was a life member of the American Legion Post #5 in Waterville. He was also a life member of the VFW in Madison Maine and the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 150.

He was educated in the schools of Madison and Waterville Maine. He had an associates degree in business administration and accounting. He was a graduate of the 2nd Air Force NCO Academy, and attended the University of Maine where he maintained a 3.4 GPA.

He is survived by his wife Nyoka D. Nixon of The Villages, Florida; his son James S. Nixon Esq. his wife Tiffany, and his granddaughter MacKenzie Ann Nixon all of Holden Maine; his stepdaughter Leah Sullivan, and husband James and their children Nancy and Abigail Sullivan, all of Haverhill, Massachusetts.

A graveside service will be held in Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison Maine. Donations in his memory may be made to; Shriner's Hospital. 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Giberson Funeral Home and Cremation Services. To view the online obituary, or leave condolences please visit www.gibersonfuneralhome.com

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 18, 2018 at 8:30 AM in St. Timothy's Catholic Church 1351 Paige Place, Lady Lake , Florida. A graveside service will be held in Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison Maine, time and date to be announced. Donations in his memory may be made to; Shriner's Hospital. 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607.

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