Warney L. Crosby, Jr.

Colonel (Ret.) Warney L. Crosby Jr., lovingly known as “Beau” and “Pa Beau,” passed away peacefully Friday, April 4, 2025, at the age of 80. He was a loyal patriot who proudly served our nation for most of his life.

A celebration of life for Col. Crosby will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Renew Church of Waco, with full military honors and a reception following in the fellowship hall.

Beau came by his patriotic dedication naturally, born December 26, 1944, into the family of the U.S. Air Force’s version of the world’s best fighter pilot: “The Great Santini.” As quintessential Air Force brats, Beau and his sisters were never in one place long enough to call it home. After attending over 12 grade schools and three different high schools, Beau entered the prestigious U.S. Air Force Academy in the summer of 1963.

While at the Academy, he captained his cadet squadron's champion swimming and water polo teams, set pool records for the 100- and 200-yard freestyle, and played intramural rugby and football during the off-seasons. He graduated from Air University Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College. Beau was particularly proud to have steadily climbed to the top of his class, graduating in 1967 with a B.S. in History, while testing in the top 2% of all engineering graduates.

He declined a Fulbright scholarship to study Far East history at the University of Hawaii, choosing instead to be part of history a little farther west—in Vietnam. Beau's first assignment there was with the 14th Special Operations Wing, working on AC-47, AC-119, and AC-130 "Gunships." With his first Academy roommate, Pat Dowling, in the cockpit, Beau also managed to sneak into the backseat of an O-1E, observing several FAC combat missions.

After Vietnam, Beau was assigned to the 307th Tactical Fighter Squadron, maintaining F-100 and F-4E fighters at Torrejon AB, Spain. The squadron deployed every third month to Incirlik, Turkey, to stand nuclear strike alert. In 1974, he served as a Controller in the Logistics Readiness Center with the Military Airlift Command headquarters.

He then joined the cadre that formed the 479th Fighter Wing, which modified 120 T-38s into AT-38 "Lead-in Fighters." In 1980, Beau transitioned from active duty to becoming a single father to his two young sons. He later worked on stealth technology at a secret site in New Mexico and then joined the 924th TFG (AFRES) at Bergstrom AFB, Texas.

There, while wearing full MOPP (chemical warfare gear), he met his now-wife of 38 years, Kathy Endres. Beau liked to joke that the chemical gear concealed his appearance just enough to land that special first date with Kathy.

In 1988, he was recalled to active duty, serving as the most junior Director on the Air Staff for the $200 million Annual Reserve Depot Maintenance Program. Soon thereafter, Beau was promoted to Colonel, and the USAF Chief of Staff for Logistics nominated him for promotion to Brigadier General.

Col. Crosby held ratings as both a Master Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Master Supply Officer. His military decorations and awards for outstanding achievement include: the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals, four Air Force Presidential Unit Citations, the Army Meritorious Unit Citation, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and three oak leaf clusters, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal – Desert Storm, the Vietnam Service Medal with four Battle Stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

After retiring from the USAF in 1997, he worked for the FAA in Washington, D.C. As the commissioning logistics engineer for the WAAS (GPS enhancement), he helped complete the program two weeks early and $4 million under budget.

Upon his military retirement, Col. Crosby continued to enjoy an active and adventurous lifestyle. He thrived as a volunteer firefighter with the cities of Woodway, TX, and Red River, NM. He received Woodway Public Safety Department’s (WPSD) Volunteer of the Year award three times and was honored with the President George W. Bush Bronze Volunteer Service Award. He earned firefighter and engineer shields from the WPSD, Advanced Life Support Ambulance Operator certification for the Red River Fire Department, and advanced firefighting certification from the Texas A&M Extension.

In March 2014, he helped start the first volunteer firefighting company in Kampala, Uganda. Beyond his dedication to the USAF and volunteer firefighting, Col. Crosby continued serving others as an apprentice cabinetmaker with the Waco Habitat for Humanity.

Col. Crosby was only slowed down after a brave battle with blood cancer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Warney L. Crosby Sr. and Jane Patricia Crosby, and his sister, Karen.

Beau is survived by his devoted wife, Kathy; his children, Bret and Nikki Crosby, Casey and Michelle Crosby, and Ralene Simmons; grandchildren, Violet, Aven, and Coco Crosby, and Geoffery Simmons; and his sisters, Patricia Spillman, and Mari and Ronnie Huie.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, or MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.

We invite you to leave a message or memory of Beau in his “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.