George Horkavi

Tuesday, December 27, 2011
George Horkavi

George Dennis Horkavi, 67, of Mountain Home, passed away quietly in his sleep on Dec. 22, 2011, at a Boise hospital, after an extended illness.

Per his request, no services will be held. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

He was born Sept. 1, 1944, in Gary, Ind., the only son of George Horkavi and Kathryn E. Navicky. He graduated from Emerson High school in 1962.

After completing a college degree in aeronautics, George enlisted in the Air Force in September 1966. Seven months later was accepted for officer candidate school.

After pilot training he served 14 months as a Forward Air Controller in Vietnam, flying numerous missions over enemy occupied territory in a single-engine observation plane. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and earned the Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters.

The following five years he was an instructor pilot and flight safety officer.

In April 1975, at Lowry AFB, he was trained in munitions maintenance. After a short assignment to Shaw AFB he transferred to Bitburg, Germany, where he was the officer in charge of the Munitions Maintenance Squadron. He returned stateside and was assigned to Cannon AFB as an F-111D pilot. From there he went to RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, flying the F-111F. He returned in April 1982 and was assigned to Mountain Home AFB, piloting the F-111A.

In February 1984, he got his most enjoyable assignment, chief of operations in King Salmon, Alaska. George loved to hunt and fish so this was as close to heaven on earth as he could get.

He completed his career as Fort Stewart, Ga., as a brigade air liaison officer and retired to Mountain Home Jan. 1, 1987.

George is survived by his sister, Kathryn, and cousin Bill Anderson. George will be sorely missed by his many friends.