Ret. Colliflower

Ret. Lt. Col. Lawrence H. Colliflower, age 78, of Clovis, New Mexico, passed away on Sunday, February 27, 2011 at Covenant Specialty Hospital in Lubbock, Texas. He was born on December 24, 1932 to Arthur Benton and Merle Smith Colliflower in Robinson, Illinois.

Lt. Col. Colliflower was a pilot in the United States Air Force and a Vietnam Veteran. He married Sylvia Ann Kilpatrick on March 16, 1957 in Bishopville, South Carolina, and received a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Illinois. He had an extensive career in the Air Force, serving as an instructor pilot on numerous aircrafts, and holding positions such as Aircraft Commander, Operations Officer, Chief of Aircrew Training, and Chief of Quality Assurance. He was assigned to the only F111 unit in Southeast Asia, and led the first F111 flight into the Republic of Korea.

Amongst many honors, Lt. Col. Colliflower also received the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star. Upon retiring from the military in 1980, he earned his Masters degree in Business Administration from Eastern New Mexico University, and then served as an accounting instructor at ENMU and Clovis Community College. After Sylvias passing, he married Liling Chu on October 4, 2005 in Clovis, New Mexico. Lt. Col. Colliflower was a member of The Order of Daedalians, Americas premier fraternal organization of U.S. military pilots.

He is survived by three daughters, Barbara James Farmer Blocker of Lubbock, Texas, Connie Mark Harrison of Clovis, and Stacey Jimmy Davis of Hobbs, New Mexico wife, Liling Chu Colliflower of Clovis, and her four daughters, Tina Huang of Taiwan, Carry Huang David Sandoval, Angel Huang and Wanerh Chen, all of Clovis seven grandchildren, Justin Sullivan of Orlando, Florida, Kyndra Sullivan of Lubbock, Texas, Chance and Jorde Pettigrew, both of Clovis, and Marissa, Stratton, and Dawson Davis, all of Hobbs, New Mexico one greatgrandchild, Reece McGrath of Lubbock, Texas three sisters, Jetta Lee Loughery of Robinson, Illinois, Marilyn Don Alton of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and Sue Ellen Ret. Lt. Col. Jackson Reavill of White Stone, Virginia and one sisterinlaw, Gail Kilpatrick of Decatur, Georgia.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Sylvia Ann Colliflower a brother, David Colliflower a brotherinlaw, Richard Loughery and two nephews, Kirk Reavill and Joe Loughery.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 3, 2011 at SteedTodd Chapel in Clovis, New Mexico, with Pastor Billy Borden officiating. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery near Palestine, Illinois. Casket bearers will be Lt. Col. Colliflowers nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cal Farleys Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, Texas 791740001. Arrangements are by SteedTodd Funeral Home, 800 E. Manana Blvd., Clovis, New Mexico 88101 575 7635541. www.steedtodd.com

Service

Funeral

Steed Todd Chapel
800 E. Manana Blvd
Clovis, NM  88101
Thursday, March 3, 2011
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Oak Grove Cemetery
Palestine, IL  62451

Memorial Contributions

P. O. Box 1890
Amarillo, TX  79174