Jonathan “Jon” Andrews, 78

     Jon peacefully passed away on June 4, 2026 after a long fight with lung rejection after his lung transplant in 2018. He was 78 years old.
     Jon was born on March 21, 1948 at Bethesda Naval Hospital the 3rd child of Elmer and Florence Andrews. After a divorce he was raised by his stepmom Audrey and Elmer.
     Due to his father’s Air Force career, he moved around a lot and was proud to say he attended a total of 15 schools. He was also proud to say he was living in Hawaii when it became a state.
     He graduated from Anchor Bay High School in Mt Clemens, Michigan in 1966 and moved to Dover the next day. He attended Wesley College for 2 years studying engineering, but on February 13, 1969, left for basic training in the Air Force. After graduating from basic training, to attend the technical school of his choice, he volunteered to be a human test subject at the Brooks Air Force Base (AFB) School of Aerospace Medicine studying the cause of numbness in astronauts. He chose to attend basic loadmaster tech school, because that’s all he ever wanted to be. After finishing loadmaster school, he was assigned to the 20th Military Airlift Squadron (MAS) at Dover AFB flying C141’s. After only 9 months, he received orders for Ching Chuan Kang (CCK) AFB in Taiwan flying C130’s. He found out that if he married his girlfriend Louise, she could join him. So he flew back to the states, got married, and Louise would join him shortly thereafter. For the next 5 years at CCK and Clark AB in the Philippines, he flew combat missions all over Vietnam. During this time, he was awarded 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, the highest award an air crew member can receive.
     He returned to Dover AFB in 1975, this time flying C5’s, his 3rd aircraft in 6 years. In 1979 he was selected to be the Air Force Functional Loadmaster and was reassigned to Randolph AFB in San Antonio, TX. He remained there until 1982 when he was assigned to the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force at MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL. He was proudly a plank holder when it became US Central Command. He had many deployments from there setting up joint exercises in the deserts of Southwest Asia. In 1984 he returned to Dover AFB, assigned to the 3rd MAS where he made CMSGT on May 1, 1987. At the time the fastest person to achieve the rank in the history of the USAF. As the Chief Loadmaster he flew many missions in support of Desert Shield and Desert Storm and finally retired in 1992. After retirement, he went back to college and earned his bachelor’s degree at Wilmington University. He worked for Hanover Foods in Clayton, DE for a few years, then was hired by Allen Foods as their Human Resource Manager in Hurlock, MD. He stayed with Allen Foods until June 2012 when he finally retired for good.
     He then volunteered for many years at the AMC Museum at Dover AFB until his health declined. He was also very involved in the Delaware Patriot Guard. He was a long-time member of the Wesley Methodist Church, where he and Louise were married in 1971, serving on several committees over the years.
     For many years, he and Louise enjoyed spending time with their family and friends boating and fishing on the Indian River and Rehoboth Bay. They also were able to take many trips in their motor home with all their camping friends. Although he traveled the world with the military, his favorite trips were the cruises to the Caribbean islands and Alaska he took with Louise and their longtime friends.
     Far beyond his achievements is the legacy he’s left behind. Jon made a tremendous impact on just about everyone he met. He was a natural leader, a true patriot, a genuine hero. He embodied all the important ideals of a happy and meaningful life, all the way to the end. His spirit lives on in everyone he touched.
     He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Louise, his sons Jonathan R Andrews II and his girlfriend Chrissy Mckeown, Jason W Andrews and his wife Megan, his granddaughter Michelle and her husband Logan Spicer, grandsons Raylan Andrews and James Mackin and great grandson Karson Kaiser. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews that he loved very much and his sister Cathy Pfeiffer and her family.
     The family would like to recognize the tremendous care he received at Temple University Hospital Lung Center, the Veterans Administration, Bayhealth Sussex Campus, and Delaware Hospice.
     Memorial services will be held 2PM, Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road (Rt.10), Dover. A visitation will be from 12 to 2pm.
     For those unable to attend the funeral service there will be a livestream on www.torbertfuneral.com, it can be found under the “Upcoming Livestreams” tab and viewed by clicking on his or her name.