USAF ROTORHEAD Members

NO BIO HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THIS MEMBER

~ Final Flight 24 May 2016

Hubert Milo “Bert” Berthold, Colonel, USAF (Retired)
June 09, 1934 – May 24, 2016

Berthold, Hubert M. “Bert” Colonel (Ret.)

United States Air Force, 81, died of congestive heart failure on May 24, 2016 at Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville, FL.

Colonel Berthold is survived by Wini Shelburne, his loving and devoted wife; and their five children; Alison and William, Bardstown, KY, Micheline of Mobile, AL, Elizabeth Griffin (Robert), Canton, GA and Lucy of Woodstock, GA. He also leaves behind five grandchildren, Megan Griffin Quinlan (Ryan), Lauren Griffin Kennedy (Colin), GA, Ryan Samuels and William Samuels, Bardstown, KY and Spencer Samuels, Woodstock, GA; and three great grandchildren.

Colonel Berthold served 28 years with distinction in the USAF. He performed three combat tours in the Vietnam War flying USAF Rescue helicopter missions. Colonel Berthold frequently stated, “The smile on the survivors face means more than any medals or rewards, it is a thanks beyond compare.” He earned numerous medals, decorations, commendations and awards for his dedication and bravery, including the Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal and two Distinguished Flying Cross.

He grew up in Louisville, KY, the eldest of four children of Julius A. and Dorothy A. Berthold. As a boy, he learned compassion and honor from his loving mother and devotion from his father, and never strayed from it. He attended Louisville Male High School and achieved the position as Regimental Commander in the U.S. Army Jr. ROTC and was Co-Captain of the football team that were 1951 Southern USA Champions. He graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1956 where he was Captain of their football team and received his commission through the U.S. Air Force Senior ROTC. On August 1, 1956 he earned his Bachelor of Art degree from Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Ky., then on to The Air War College, where he attended the Air University Resident Course from 1975 to 1976. He subsequently received his Master of Art Degree from Webster College, St. Louis, Mo. on May 10, 1975.

After his retirement from the USAF in 1984, he was a quality control manager for Boeing Aircraft and was involved in their development of the CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and with other assignments in the U.S. and Spain.

When Bert retired in 1995 he and Wini made their home in Ft. Walton Beach, Fl. He cherished his beloved wife and their children and grandchildren. They were Bert’s happiness and world.

Please visit www.daviswatkins.com to sign the guestbook, express condolences and share memories.

Published in The Courier-Journal on July 10, 2016

July 10, 2016
My heart has a hole in it that will never be filled. I miss you so much every day and know that life will never be the same without you. I take solace in that you’ve found peace in Heaven. You filled our lives with a love that was unimaginable and never failed to let us know how much we meant to you. I love you Bert.
~
Lucy Lucy Samuels, Woodstock, GA

July 10, 2016
LIT A CANDLE
~
Micheline Samuels, Mobile, AL

July 10, 2016
I miss your life and personhood on this earth, Bert. I pray for my mother, Wini, who was your most excellent wife and mate for 40+ years. You two were “one” the way God intended marriage to be. I can’t way for you two to dance on the Milky Way together. Save me a seat at the breakfast table. Save me a dance on the Milky Way. Your most loving daughter in Christ Jesus, Micheline Samuels.
~
Micheline Samuels, Mobile, AL