Stanton Richard Musser, Maj Gen, USAF (Ret.), age 76 years, took his final flight to be with the Lord Oct. 8, 2012, with his family by his side.

He was born April 2, 1936, in Watsontown, the son of Marjorie May and Harold L. Musser. He graduated from Gettysburg High School, Gettysburg College, and earned his master’s from Central Michigan. He completed the program for senior executives in National and International Security at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. His outstanding athletic abilities in track and football won him a full scholarship to Gettysburg College, where he was a member of the ROTC. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Honor for both Adams County and Gettysburg College and was named Distinguished Alumnus for Gettysburg College. He ultimately served 31 years in the Air Force as a fighter pilot. He flew with the Air Force Thunderbirds for three years, two tours in Vietnam, was Vice Commandant at the A.F. Academy, senior military advisor to the Ambassador in Cairo, Egypt, Wing Commander of the 602nd Tactical Air Central Wing, Bergstrom AFB, Texas, and Wing Commander of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, flying F-15s.

After retirement from the USAF, Gen. Musser spent 10 years as the Commandant of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, where he helped begin the rebuilding of the Corps, to include changing the training system, fully integrating women into residence halls and started a leadership minor for Corps members. Upon leaving VT., he was named Professor Emeritus. He is a command pilot with more than 4,500 hours primarily in the F-100, F-4 and F-15 aircraft. His decorations and awards include: Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the AF Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters and the AF Commendation Medal.

Gen. Musser is survived by his wife of 53 years, Dawn Burg Musser; three children: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Scott L. Musser, Shari Musser Jones, Kristin Musser Asbury, and their spouses, Janeal Taylor Musser, Greg H. Jones, and Randy Asbury. He is also survived by his six handsome grandsons, Sean, Ryan, Alec, and Bret Musser, Cole and Clay Jones; his step-father, Warren West; sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Tom Verica; and four sisters, Sandra Musser, Terry West, Sandy High, and Sharron Musser Lloyd.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, Oct. 20, at 10 a.m. in the Blacksburg United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Reggie Tuck. Interment will follow in Arlington National Cemetery. The family will receive friends, from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at the McCoy Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Scholarship Fund, University Development (0336), Blacksburg, VA 24061 or The Wounded Warrior Project atwww.woundedwarriorproject.org in memory of Maj. Gen. Stan Musser (USAF Ret.)

Published in Gettysburg Times from October 13 to October 16, 2012