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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:
Mr. William Craig Dubishar

William Roland Dubishar was born on December 22, 1922 in Williamsburg, Iowa, the last child of Joseph and Viola May McCallister Dubishar.
Roland’s nickname growing up was Pooge. He attended Williamsburg Grade School and graduated from the Public High School in 1941. His favorite pet as a child was a cat named Herman (and as an adult, Abbey, the dog and another cat named Herman). He also worked at the movie house (now the bowling alley, at the southwest corner of the town square) selling popcorn outside the movie house. He loved the big bands (particularly the big bands from the Mid-West such as Eddy Howard, Dick Jurgens, Tiny Hill and Sammy Kaye), and this remained a passion throughout his life. Dad told stories of staying up into the early morning hours listening to the radio and catching the big bands playing at major cities across the United States.
He entered the U.S. Army on February 9, 1943, at the age of 20 years. He soon applied for and attended navigator’s training school and entered the U.S. Army Air Corps (later the U.S. Air Force). He flew on many different types of aircraft including the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-29 Superfortress, B-50 bomber and the first jet bomber, the B-47 Stratojet. He was stationed throughout the world including Tripoli, Libya (side trips to Paris, Bavaria, Etc.), Guam, and various Strategic Air Command (SAC) Air Force Bases in the United States (Columbus, Houston, Sacramento, and Little Rock). He survived a mid-air collision over the Arizona desert in 1952. On May 1, 1965, he retired as a Major from the U.S. Air Force after 22 years of service. He, on occasion, spoke about his service years and remained very proud of his service to his country.
He married the beautiful Marilyn Dawn Dane in 1953 and they remained married over 46 and one-half years until her death in July 2000. He was the father of Becky, Denise, Mindy and Craig and the proud “Grandpa” of nine (Dawn, Adrienne, Emily, Megan, Adam, Natalie, Benjin, Nicole, and Lila). Their family vacations included trips to the Gulf of Mexico; Williamsburg, Iowa (to see relatives and the Amana Colonies); Colorado (Great Sand Dunes, Four Corners, Durango); Port Author/Fort William, Canada; the Wisconsin Dells; and, once the kids were gone, many points out West. After retiring from Johnson Air Force Base, the family moved to Denver, Colorado in the summer of 1965, and then to St. Louis in June of 1967. He worked for the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (later the Defense Mapping Agency Aeronautical Center) from 1967 until his retirement in 1987. After living nearly 34 years in St. Louis, “Duby” had many, many friends there.
He died on April 28, 2001 at St. Anthony’s Hospital with his family at his side after suffering a heart attack the week before, at the age of 78 years, 4 months and 6 days. Roland was preceded in death by his lovely wife, Marilyn, and his four older siblings; Irene, Arnold, Viola, and Francis. Dad was always lovable, typically funny, often mysterious, and will be forever missed.