SAVANNAH, GEORGIA - Lieutenant Colonel C. E. “Cass” Cassiday, United States Air Force (Ret.), 89, of Savannah, Georgia, widower of Betty Jean Cook Cassiday, died Saturday evening, July 17, 2010, at Hospice Savannah.  Cass lost his valiant four-month battle with lung cancer just two months shy of what would have been his 90th birthday. He often stated that in life, “one must play the cards you’re dealt” and that was exactly what this warrior from the Greatest Generation did until the end.

Born in Logan County, Oklahoma, he was a son of the late Joseph Franklin Cassiday and the late Stella Margaret Haver Cassiday.  Cass retired as a combat pilot from the United States Air Force after 24 years of service.  During his military service, he flew 62 combat missions in World War II.  Cass later worked several years for Page Aircraft Company, Ft. Stewart, Georgia, and after that, along with his wife, was a real estate salesman and broker for twenty years.  In addition to his wife of 55 years and his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Maxine Mincey, and a brother, Clifford Cassiday.

Surviving are his daughter, Betty Colleen Cassiday and her husband who loved him as a father, Kenneth C. Coe, of Savannah, Georgia; his son, Michael “Mike” Dennis Cassiday and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, of Savannah, Georgia; one devoted sister, Shirley Cassiday Howerton and her husband, Bill, of Alex, Oklahoma; four grandsons, Michael Joseph, Patrick Read, John Franklin and Robert Alexander; his best friend, Vivian Lorene Clubb; his loyal neighbor, Fay Crumbley, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral service, with full military honors, will be held at 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon, July 29th, in the chapel of Gamble Funeral Service, 410 Stephenson Avenue, conducted by The Reverend Samuel C. Davis, Jr. Private interment will be in South Marshall Cemetery in Logan County, Oklahoma.

The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 o’clock Thursday, July 29th, at The Hunter Club, Hunter Army Airfield. (Attendees must use the Montgomery Street entrance and are reminded that Hunter requires government issued photo identification for each attendee and proof of registration and insurance for each vehicle).

Remembrances:  Hospice Savannah - Post Office Box 13190, Savannah, Georgia 31416-0190 and the World War II Memorial Monument - Post Office Box 16561, Savannah, Georgia 31416.