Page 68 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021- Online Magazine

days and Vic worked a later shift,
went to a picture show at the Granada (in Plainview)
and had an ice cream cone afterwards.” Victor was
immediately smitten with the red-headed girl, and their
courtship began. Vic and Sue married on December 18,
1955, but, according to Sue, “only after he got his U.S.
citizenship.” They were married 65 years last December
and had four sons and one daughter.
When the Amarillo base closed, Vic transferred to
Laredo AFB, and Sue went to work as a civilian for
the Air Force. After five years, Vic and Sue both
transferred to Reese AFB near Lubbock in 1973 and
remained there until their retirement. Sue worked
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68 Lubbock Senior Link
so he could help with childcare.
The kids told her years later that
“Daddy pulled inspection on us
every morning, making sure that
we ate our breakfast, brushed
our teeth, shined our shoes, had
our homework, books and lunch
money ready!”
Vic went on the 2014 Texas South
Plains Honor Flight after his
daughter, Rosemarie, a six-year
Navy veteran, found out about the
trip at the VA clinic. (In addition,
his son, Andrew was in the Air
Force from 1989-1993.) Sue said
that it was “the trip of a lifetime
for him.” His favorite stop was at
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
When asked what he’d like to be
remembered for, Vic said, “That I
did my best. I served my country.”
Victor Astwood may have been born in Haiti, but he
was proud to be an American and to have served his
country for many, many years. Asked how the military
enhanced his life, Vic said, “It gave me training for a
lifetime. I met a lot of interesting people.”
Victor Astwood passed away on March 26, 2021.