George Busko Jr., 1936-2009

Lt. Col. George Busko Jr., USAF, Retired, of Maryville, Tenn. passed away on Sept. 14th 2009 after a long battle with Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis.  George was born Sept. 29th 1936 in Ashland, Pa. to Anna (Lebak) Busko and George Busko Sr.  He spent his boyhood years in Frackville, Pa. with his beloved grandparents where he mastered the technique of riding a bicycle with no handlebars.  He began work as a draftsman for Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, Conn. before receiving his USAF commission in 1960 as Aviation Cadet Navigator.  His first assignment in 1960 was a KC-97 Navigator for the 40th Air Refueling Squadron, Strategic Air Command and then as crew on the KC-135 in the 310th ARS, Shilling AFB, Kan.  George continued as Master Navigator on the KC-135 in 1965 at Walker AFB, N.M.; 1967 at Plattsburg AFB, N.Y.; then in 1974 joined the 1st Combat Evaluation Group at Barksdale AFB, La. as Navigator Evaluator and in 1978 became the Tanker Division Chief.  George’s final assignment in 1980 was the 42nd Air Division’s Senior Air Force Advisor to the 134th ARG, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Maryville, Tenn. before retiring in 1985.  He flew missions overseas TDY from 1961-1965 and 1969–1972 during the Vietnam War.  Over his career he flew 1108 hrs in the KC-97 and 3872 hrs in the KC-135.  George was decorated with 10 medals and awards which include the Meritorious Service Metal, Air Medal-2D, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal-1D.  George earned his B.A. in Social Sciences from Louisiana Tech in 1975, and since retiring, an A.S. in Computer Science, and an A.S. in Electronic Technology from PSTCC.  George and Rosemary were proprietors of the Santa’s Surplus store in Maryville for 10 years from 1988.  He was an avid golfer, private aviator, and devoted husband and father.  Since 1982, his most passionate focus has been his grandkids.  George is survived by his wife, Rosemary Busko; his daughter, Leann Busko-Binney; son Nicholas Busko; sister, Anna Freiday; aunt, Mary Kopey; niece, Cheryl McIlhon; son-in-law, Scott Binney; daughter-in-law, Tina Busko; eight grandchildren, Laina Busko, Zachary Busko, Alyssa Binney, Colleen Binney, Desirae Binney, Andrew Busko, Emery Busko, and Benjamin Busko; and VIP #2 Lisa Tilley.  The family and friends will assemble at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, 2009 at the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville, Tenn. for the funeral service with full military honors with Fr. Steven of St. Anne Orthodox Church, Oak Ridge, Tenn. officiating.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in his name.  The family will receive friends on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009 from 1:30 until 3 p.m. at Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, Tenn., 865-983-1000.