Dennis Brown Rawls, Jr

Dennis Brown Rawls Jr., age 91, passed away Friday, February 26, 2016 in Albany, GA at the Willson Hospice House. Funeral services will be held Monday at 11:00 AM at Mathews Funeral Home. Dr. William D. "Biff" Coker and Mr. Carl Barnhardt will officiate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow Wednesday at 11:00 AM at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park in Tampa, FL with Military Honors.

Dennis was born in Tampa, Florida on September 14, 1924. He attended Plant High School and graduated in 1942.
After graduating, he joined the Air Force and went to Aviation Cadets School. He completed several phases of training and graduated from Advanced Flight Training as a 2nd Lieutenant from Turner Field in Albany Georgia in February 1944. He was sent oversees to England with the 8th Air Force/ 390th Bomb Group. He flew 35 missions including a shuttle mission to Russia. He was then transferred to the 339th Fighter group in Fowlmere England and flew 18 missions in a P-51 Mustang until the war ended.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal 5 times with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters. He assumed air reserve status in November 1945.
Dennis graduated from Echols College of Mortuary Science and Business in Philadelphia in 1949. He worked as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer for B. Marion Reed Funeral Home until August of 1956 when he was hired as a Pilot with Eastern Airlines. Before retiring from Eastern as a Captain, Dennis also served as a Pilot Instructor, Check Airman and Standards Manager during his 28 years of service.
Dennis was a jack of all trades and a "do it yourself" kind of man. He had a big heart and would do anything to help others. He was a member of the Sertoma Club in Tampa, Fl., a sixty year member of Hillsborough Masonic Lodge # 25 F&AM and the Egypt Shrine Temple Shrine in Tampa, FL where he served on the Shrine Patrol Unit. Dennis was an involved Father and family man and volunteered in many of his children's activities and sports. He was an active member of the High School Parent Athletic Association.
Dennis was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Rawls, on February 19, 2016his parents, Dennis Brown Rawls and Lucille Jannsen Rawls, and a sister, Charlotte Dunn.
Survivors include his sister, Marion Gray of Cherokee NC.; his son, Dennis B. Rawls III (Karen) of Lake Wylie, SC.; his daughter, Becky Boatright (David) of Albany, Ga.; his grandchildren: Jenna Willcox (Allan), Lindsey Simmons (Brock), and Carol Ford (Ray) all of Albany, Ga., Dennis Rawls IV of Lake Wylie, S.C., Taylor Rawls of Chicago Ill. and Scott Boatright (Becky) of Smyrna, Ga.; his great grandchildren: Tanner, Fletcher, Bowen, Floyd and Weslyn and his loving nieces, nephews and extended family.
In lieu of flowers please make memorials in Dennis's name to the Shriners Children's Hospital 12502 USF Pine Dr. Tampa, FL. 33612-9411 or Albany Community Hospice 320 Foundation Ln. Albany, Ga. 31721