Walter C. Meehan

Walter E. Meehan, age 89, passed away on Sunday, December 20, 2009 at HospiceCare in Fitchburg.   He was born in Muskegon, MI on July 7, 1920, a son of Robert M. and Frances (Golusha) Meehan.   On January 16, 1943, he was united in marriage to Betty Myers in Chicago.   Walter served his country in the Army Air Corps during WWII.   He was a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner on a B-17 with the Eighth Air Force, 95th Bomb Group, 335 Squadron.   He flew 17 combat missions over France, Germany and Holland and was recognized by the governments of both France and The Netherlands for his services.   He was part of Operation Manna / Chowhound that had bombers coming in at tree top level to drop food to the starving Dutch population during the April 1945 armistice.   Walter worked for Commonwealth Edison as a power plant engineer.   He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion.   He is survived by a son, Patrick (Wanda) Meehan; 2 grandsons, Andrew (Chiann) Meehan and Casey (Sonja) Meehan; and a grand daughter, Pratibha ( Chad) Brockman.   He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty; brother, Robert; and sisters, Mary and Lucille.   There will be a private family gathering at a later date.