Distinguished UF Alumnus, Rear Admiral Edward Feightner, Dies at 100

Rear Admiral Edward L. Feightner ’41 Findlay College alumni and Navy air ace of World War II passed away recently at the age of 100.

Born in Lima, Ohio on October 14, 1919, he was one four children of Amos and Mary Feightner and was raised on a farm in rural Elida, Ohio. Attending then Findlay College on a full-ride scholarship, Feightner graduated in 1941 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics, and was later honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013. After receiving the award, Feightner had commented, “I really appreciated my time at Findlay, and I think the caliber of the education I got, I couldn’t have wished for better.”

Feightner, fascinated by flight from an early age, joined the Civilian Pilot Training Program and received his private pilot’s license in 1940. He soon decided to join the Navy to become a fighter pilot after his college graduation. In his 34 years of Navy service, he flew as a combat pilot, instructor, and test pilot. When he retired from service, Feightner had achieved the title of rear admiral and had flown over 100 types of planes.

Awards Feightner received throughout his career in the Navy include:

• Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze Star
• National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star
• Navy Occupation Service Medal
• WWII Victory Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with eleven Campaign Stars
• American Campaign Medal
• American Defense Service Medal
• China Service Medal
• Navy Presidential Unit Citation with three Service Stars
• Combat Action Ribbon
• Navy and Marine Corps Medal
• Air Medal with two Silver and one Gold Star
• Distinguished Flying Cross with three Gold Stars
• Legion of Merit with one Gold Star
• Congressional Gold Medal (for U.S. Aces, issued in May 2015, in recognition of their heroic service to the United States of America)

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements with final interment at Arlington National Cemetery. Please visit Feightner’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign his guest book. Gifts in his honor may be given to the University of Findlay’s Rear Admiral Feightner Scholarship Fund and sent to:

     University of Findlay
     Attn: Advancement Office
     1000 N Main St.
     Findlay, OH 45840

For more information on Edward Feightner and his amazing journey, read his full obituary in the New York Times HERE.