Wayne Wesley Gamble, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force, Retired, passed away on May 6, 2016 in Tullahoma, Tennessee.

He is survived by his wife, Agnes Rose Webb Joels, Tullahoma, a stepson, Tom Forrester Joels, Winter Springs, FL, and two cousins, Janet Ingram, Alsey, IL and Nancy Patterson, Jacksonville, IL. He is predeceased by his first wife, Nancy Lucetta Price Gamble and his parents, Charles Wesley Gamble and Marian Lyons Patterson Gamble, their deaths occurring in 1994, 1938, and 1969, respectively.

Wayne was born in 1934 in Shenandoah, Iowa and graduated with the class of 1952 from Shenandoah High School, where his participations and service included photographer, yearbook editor, band, chorus, and Key Club. Wayne majored in physics and chemistry at Iowa State University for two years, during which he was enrolled in group band each term, including the marching band and jazz band. ISU academic courses in Air Sciences, offered through ROTC, motivated Wayne to leave Ames and join the Air Force.

Wayne's Pilot Training was completed at Reese AFB, Texas, with short stints at Graham Air Base, Marianna, FL, and he remained at Reese as a flight instructor, primarily multi-engine aircraft. During his years at Reese he formed an opinion of his favorite plane to fly, and it remained the B-25. In his first overseas assignment, and after seven months working at base operations for the 314th Air Division Headquarters, Osan Air Base, Korea, Lieut. Gamble was selected to be Aide-de-Camp to Brig. Gen. John B. Tipton, Commander of United States Air Forces-Korea. His first enlistment was extended and his role as Aide-de-Camp truly conveyed Wayne's strengths as a person and his future as an airman. Highly principled, modest, and hardworking, Wayne was one among thousands of military peers who served (and currently serve) their nation with integrity, honor, and sacrifice.

Lieut. Gamble's duties included personal pilot to Gen. Tipton, and, in a letter home to Iowa, he remarked how much he enjoyed flying "the General's plushed up C-47." On one of the General's trip to a US Air Base in Japan, Wayne met Lt. Nancy Lucetta Price, an Air Force med-evac nurse, and they gave long-distance courtship new meaning; Wayne was in Korea and Nancy's team flew severely-injured servicemen from Japan to the states. Wayne was next assigned to Sheppard AFB, Texas, and Nancy had to separate from the Air Force to marry. The separation papers were lost in Japan, but found, and Nancy arrived at Sheppard just in time for the wedding, planned by Wayne to the smallest detail with an exception. He recalls, "I didn't try on the dress." Wayne and Nancy shared 33 years and the 'Air Force life.'

Wayne, now Captain, was selected to complete his college education at Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering Sciences, Aero-Mechanical Option. AFIT is the USA's only service academy to award graduate degrees, and Wayne earned his Master of Science at AFIT in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.

Captain Gamble's next assignment was Phu Cat Air Base, Viet Nam, flying the EC-47 in over 200 missions. Next, he was the Squadron Commander/Maintenance Officer, Howard Air Force Base, Canal Zone for his last overseas assignment. Nancy Gamble was able to join him in this location, and they acquired a Panama Amazon Parrot, Howard, AFB (Howard, A Fine Bird) who learned to sing complete songs, including the Star Spangled Banner. Howard AFB was a great hit with neighbors at Wayne's final Air Force career assignment. At Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, his position was Chief, Configuration Management Division, Airlift Systems Program Office.
Wayne retired with the rank of Lt. Col. His medals and decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and Command Pilot Wings.

Retirement gave Wayne, a resident of Florida, time and setting for new work and new hobbies. He worked for the municipality of Oviedo and became an avid grower of roses. Still following the Air Force slogan, 'Aim High,' he became a Consulting Rosarian of the American Rose Society (ARS) and enjoyed sharing his roses with others. Serious rosarians often ask each other to name their favorite rose, and, after 2004, Wayne would reply that he married his favorite, Agnes Rose Webb Joels. Wayne and Rosie received the ARS Bronze Medallion for service to their local, Central Florida Rose Society, and they nurtured and enjoyed their garden of over 400 rose bushes for eight years, until they moved to Tennessee, Rosie's native state. Wayne often said he became a halfback; he moved half way back to his home state, and he expressed a wish to stay in Tennessee where there are large fields of corn, many big green machines (the John Deere kind), and people are good, "just like in Iowa."

Wayne was confirmed at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Tullahoma, making a renewed commitment to his faith. When health permitted he enjoyed attending annually the Dayton Air Show and the National Aviation Hall of Fame Annual Dinner, and he enjoyed karaoke at his local Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

Additional new affiliations and hobbies brought new experiences even to the end of his life, but for Lt. Col. Wayne Wesley Gamble one fact was constant: Neither the cause, the mission, nor the work was as important as the people he loved and respected. He especially had strong feelings about America's veterans, believing that each is and will forever remain his brother or sister in heart and service to America. He is a VFW member and an American Legion Life Member and assists many other veterans-affiliated organizations.

Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 11:30 am Central time from the Graveside at Pine Grove Cemetery (2126 Valley View Highway) in Jasper, Tennessee.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Saturday from 9:30-11:15 am Central time at the Jasper Chapel of Rogers Funeral Home (21 East 5th Street, Jasper, Tennessee).

Consistent with Col. Gamble's convictions, those who wish to honor him, in lieu of flowers, are respectfully asked to support local VFW and American Legion posts throughout our nation or the Sequatchie Valley Honor Guard, c/o John Carson, 3511 Shellmound Road, Jasper, TN 37347.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.rogersfuneralhome.com.