Delwin “Del” Meyer was called to his heavenly home on April 22, 2018. Del was born at home in Elkton, South Dakota to Arthur J. and Ella Meyer. He was one of seven boys and three girls in the family. Del was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Elkton. The Meyer family was active in farming and ranching, and when Del was a young boy, they moved from Elkton to Watertown, South Dakota.
As a young man working the ranch/farm he often would look up and watch the airplanes from nearby military bases flying low over the land on training maneuvers. This was the beginning of a lifelong obsession with airplanes and flying. During WWII, when he came of age, he gave up his agricultural deferment to join the Army Air Force. He was accepted into the Air Cadet Flight Training Program and successfully completed the basic and primary flight training and was commissioned as a Flight Officer. This flight training occurred at Courtland Army Air Field and Pryor Army Air Field near Decatur, AL. It was here that he met and, following graduation, married Eloise Evelyn Daniel from Cullman, Alabama. Following their marriage on March 31, 1945, Michael Van Meyer was born to them on December 20, 1945 at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi. Del spent 23 years in the Air Force. Subsequent military assignments were at Yokota AFB, Japan, Riverside AFB, California, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, Castle AFB, California and Beale AFB, California where he retired.
Following his retirement from the Air Force Del and Eloise moved to Huntsville, Alabama where Del and Eloise played an active role at Grace Lutheran Church. Del worked for a short time with Snelling and Snelling Employment Agency and finally settled in to a second career with Pitney Bowes for 10 years as a Sales Representative, after which he retired for a second time. During this career, his interest in aviation continued by teaching flying lessons in small aircraft from local airfields.
He is survived by his wife, Eloise Meyer; son Michael Meyer and wife, Gail; grandchildren, Brian Meyer and Matthew Meyer and wife, Chasity; great-grandchildren, Alysia, and Jayden Meyer; and brother, Lonnie Meyer, and wife Miriam.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, April 26 at Grace Lutheran Church, with the funeral service immediately following. Burial will be in Holly Pond Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the “Capital Investment Program” (for the completion of new classrooms) at Grace Lutheran Church/School, 3321 South Memorial Parkway, Huntsville, AL 35801.
