Gone But Not Forgotten

Honoring fallen comrades is an important part of the AOG mission and we ask to be notified as soon as possible of the death of any graduate, Air Training Officer or cadet so that we can take appropriate actions. The AOG has learned of the following deaths within the past 90 days.

For best results, try searching by Last Name (e.g. Smith), Class Year (e.g. 1959), or Cadet Squadron (e.g. CS-01). More complex searches may not return desired results.

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Col (Ret) Robin Kozelka - Class of 1959 , CS-07

Deceased on May 3, 2025 - Informed on May 3, 2025

Celebration of Life: Will be held at a later date in the summer of 2025. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Poquoson Public Library, 500 City Hall Ave, Poquoson, VA 23662 or a charity of your choice. Obituary: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/42501245/colonel-robin-m-kozelka

Lt Col (Ret) Jeffrey Leeper - Class of 1977 , CS-34

Deceased on May 3, 2025 - Informed on May 3, 2025

Memorial service: 1300 hours 10 May 2025 at the Bucktrout Funeral Home, 4124 Ironbound Rd., Williamsburg, VA 23188. Immediately following friends and family will gather at Revolution Golf and Grille, 1430 High St., Suite 706, WIlliamsburg, VA 23185., Obituary: https://www.bucktroutfuneralhome.net/obituaries/Jeffrey-White-Leeper?obId=42347516

Col (Ret) John Stephenson - Class of 1965 , CS-15

Deceased on April 24, 2025 - Informed on May 2, 2025

Rosary vigil: 1800 hours until 2000 hours on 28 April 2025 at the Owens and Brumley Funeral Home, 1317 9th St., Wichita Falls, TX 76301. Funeral Mass: 1100 hours on 29 April 2025 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 2601 Lansing Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76309. Interment: At at later date at the USAFA Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Religious Education Building Fund at Our Lady Queen of Peace, 2601 Lansing Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76309. Obituary: https://www.owensbrumley.com/obituary/col-john-stephenson

Mr. Jeff Jarvis - Class of 1966 , CS-23

Deceased on January 9, 2024 - Informed on May 2, 2025

Funeral service: 1100 hours 20 January 2024 at the LDS Chapel at 3707 S 800 W, Bountiful, UT. Burial service: Held at the Bountiful City Cemetery. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Utah Foster Care at https://utahfostercare.org/get-involved/donate/. Obituary: https://www.lindquistmortuary.com/obituaries/jefferson-jarvis

Maj (Ret) William Jones - Class of 1976 , CS-29

Deceased on April 20, 2025 - Informed on April 24, 2025

Service details: 1030 hours 25 April 2025 at Calvary Cemetery, 990 Middle Rd., Portsmouth, NH 03801. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Red Cross, www.redcross.org. Obituary: https://www.jvwoodfuneralhome.com/obituaries/William-Michael-Jones?obId=42129725#/obituaryInfo

Col (Ret) Edward Boswell - Class of 1963 , CS-12

Deceased on April 3, 2025 - Informed on April 24, 2025

Memorial service: 1330 hours on 17 April 2025 at the First Baptist Church of Washington, 105 West Robert Toombs Avenue, Washington, GA 30673. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Benevolence Fund at First Baptist Church, https://www.fbcwashingtonga.org/ or to Gideon International, c/o Alton Ray, 123 Sheraton Dr., Washington, GA 30673. Obituary: https://www.hopkinsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/edward-boswell

Maj (Ret) Stephen Thompson - Class of 1989 , CS-06

Deceased on April 8, 2025 - Informed on April 23, 2025

Memorial service: 1700 16 April 2025 at Cornerstone Christian Church, 7775 N. Green Lount Rd., Belleville, IL 62221. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Cornerstone Christian Church, https://www.onecornerstone.org/give Obituary: https://www.schildknechtfh.com/obituaries/Stephen-Bernard-Thompson?obId=41950670

Col (Ret) Robert Simpson - Class of 1963 , CS-02

Deceased on April 10, 2025 - Informed on April 22, 2025

Celebration of Life: 1200 hours on 25 May 2025 at 120 W Lynwood Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212. Obituary: https://www.olingermortuaryservice.com/obituary/robert-simpson

Col (Ret) Daniel Tibbetts - Class of 1969 , CS-26

Deceased on April 17, 2025 - Informed on April 17, 2025

Celebration of Life: 1300 hours on 03 May 2025 at The Church at Shalimar, 1 Ferry Rd., Shalimar, Fl 32579. Interment: Will be held at a later date at the USAFA Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO. Memorial donations: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, https://www.cancer.org/, the Emerald Coast Science Center, https://www.ecscience.org/, or The Church at Shalimar, https://thechurchatshalimar.org/. Obituary: https://www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Col-Usaf-Ret-Daniel-Buff-Tibbetts?obId=42071551

Lt Col (Ret) Kenneth Wentzel - Class of 1964 , CS-05

Deceased on March 30, 2025 - Informed on April 16, 2025

Interment will be held at a later date at the USAFA Cemetery.

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Next of Kin

For Next of Kin support resources please visit: https://www.usafanextofkin.org/

Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten annual publication

The Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation has introduced a new benefit to better memorialize USAFA graduates and support their families.

Gone But Not Forgotten, which appeared in Checkpoints magazine for decades, has transitioned to a dedicated, annual publication. The inaugural edition of Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten published in March 2025.

A: As the Academy’s graduate population ages, Checkpoints has become increasingly insufficient in accommodating the growing number of submitted memorial articles.
A: The new Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten publication honors the Long Blue Line by sharing the personal stories of graduates, cadets, Air Training Officers and AOG Honorary Members. It reflects our mission to support the Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution and Long Blue Line.
A: We considered several cost-effective, impactful options and consulted with our peers at the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy. West Point’s TAPS publication provided an excellent model for this new publication.
A: One complimentary copy is provided to a loved one of the deceased memorialized in the publication. Additional printed copies are available for a nominal fee of $25 each. The digital version is available at no cost to all AOG members.
A: AOG members can access the digital issue at usafa.org. If you are not a member but wish to join and access this benefit and others, membership is available at no cost to all USAFA graduates here.
A: Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten is available for $25 here or by calling 719-472-0300. The fee supports providing one complimentary copy to families of those memorialized.
A: See below:
A: Past memorial articles printed in Checkpoints are available as a commemorative keepsake for $15 each. These keepsakes include the photo that ran with the tribute and are printed on sturdy paper, suitable for framing. Articles come enclosed in a blue linen folder and can be ordered here or by calling 719-472-0300. Commemorative keepsake orders will ship or be available for pickup within two weeks of the order date.
A: See below:
A: A major benefit of transitioning to an annual publication is that 2025 memorial articles may run up to 800 words — double the current limit. In the 2026 Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten memorial publication — which will include deaths in 2025 — each article will be presented on its own full page.
A: Email a recent favorite photo of the deceased. The photo (head and shoulders, color preferred) should be emailed as a high-resolution .jpg. Low-resolution image submissions may be declined in favor of a cadet yearbook photo.
A: Submit a memorial article and photo through a form at usafanextofkin.org or email deceasednotifications@usafa.org.
A: One of the major benefits of transitioning to a dedicated, annual publication is that memorial articles can now be up to 800 words. In the 2026 Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten memorial publication — which will include deaths in 2025 — each article will be presented on its own full page.
A: Memorial articles for deaths in 2025 should be emailed when ready to ensure the Association and Foundation can post the tribute on usafa.org/heritage/gbnf.
A: The last issue memorial articles appeared in Checkpoints was in December 2024, but death notices will continue to be published in Checkpoints.
A: Death notices will be printed in each issue of Checkpoints.
A: See below:
A: Memorial articles for deaths in 2025 will be printed around March 2026.
A: Call 719-472-0300 or email Terri Davis, next-of-kin support specialist, at deceasednotifications@usafa.org.

Gone But Not Forgotten