~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, SO/RC/NWA Capt. Douglas E. Behm
March 12, 1939 ~ March 28, 2018
Notification with the passing of retired pilot Captain Douglas
Edwin Behm, age 79. Captain Behm is survived by his wife Beth, their children
and grandchildren.
To view/sign the online guestbook please visit
Obituary may also be viewed at
Arrangements were entrusted to Memphis Funeral Home, 5599
Poplar Ave, Memphis TN.
Should more information be received, we will be sure to
forward it on.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Obituary..................
Douglas Edwin Behm, 79, who was born on March 12, 1939 in
Pomona, CA, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, March 28,
2018 after a long battle with cancer. Doug was a graduate of Long Beach State
University with a degree in Industrial Arts, where he was a member of the 1961
California State Champion Swim Team, as well as a member of Kappa Sigma
Fraternity. After graduation, Doug was commissioned as an officer in the U.S.
Navy where he served as a naval aviator. He was licensed to pilot several
aircraft, including being a twice-commended rescue pilot on the H-2 Seasprite
during multiple Mediterranean cruises on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt and USS
Shangri-La. He then began a 28-year career as a commercial airline pilot, where
he worked for Southern Airways, Republic Airlines, and Northwest Airlines,
retiring as a captain on the DC-9 with over 22,000 hours of flight time. He was
a member of Germantown United Methodist Church and the Seekers Sunday School
Class. His love of the deserts of the Southwest could be seen in his collection
of artifacts and rocks assembled from many visits there, in his custom furniture
and sculpture, as well as his silver and stone jewelry creations. His greatest
passion was sharing adventures with his wife Beth. He was preceded in death by
his parents Edwin Henry Behm and Elma Genora DeFrance Behm of Ontario,
California. Survivors include his beloved wife of 52 years, Beth Behm; daughters
Kristen Behm of Lookout Mountain, TN; and Lauren Truett (Wes) of Germantown, TN;
son William Behm (Tracy) of Newnan, GA; grandchildren Will Truett, Julia Truett,
Ellie Behm, Weber Behm, Katie Behm, and Charlie Behm; and sister Beverly Markle
and family of Huntington Beach, CA. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m.
until 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 3 at Memphis Funeral Home on Poplar. Funeral
Services will be at 11a.m. at Germantown United Methodist Church with a private
burial at West TN Veterans Cemetery immediately following. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital Art Program. The
family is especially thankful for the caring staff of West Cancer Center and
Methodist Hospice. Doug said that “My life has been made a joy with the love of
the Lord, Family and Friends.”
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