More detail on this person: William A. Aubrey
Waldrop died June 11, 2009 near the Patrick Air
Force Base Marina, FL, one day before celebrating
his 63rd birthday. Perhaps due to an undetermined
medical condition, he drowned while pursuing his
passion for fishing. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
10/13/2025
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Those who were with Aubrey in his flight school
Class 68-23, or served with him in the 1st
Infantry Division in Vietnam, probably knew him as
Lurch, a nickname borrowed from the TV character
which he begrudgingly tolerated with good humor.
The name was appropriate in a way; he had an
erect posture, stood a head taller that most of
those around him and his hands were the size of
baseball gloves. Proportionate to his frame was a
giant smile, a friendly gaze and a substantial
appetite. Aubrey loved cooking for large groups
and whenever word got out that he was cooking, a
crowd would develop. A man of few words, his ideas
and concerns were always taken seriously.
Aubrey was born in Brevard, NC on June 12, 1946,
grew up near Savannah, GA and joined the Army in
1967. After flight school in Ft. Wolters and
Hunter/Stewart, he received a Cobra transition and
served with the Big Red One in Vietnam from April
1969 to April 1970. His Call Sign was Rebel 21 and
he flew 1,095 combat hours. Aubrey went on to
complete two tours in Korea, one in Germany and
Ft. Mead, MD where he flew C-12s. Among his
many awards and citations are the DFC, 40 Air
Medals, one Air Medal with V and the Vietnam
Cross of Gallantry with Palm. After retiring from
active duty as a CW-4 Master Aviator, Aubrey flew
a variety of corporate aircraft internationally
and was flying UH-1s for NASA at the time of his
death.
He is survived by his wife, Maria C. Waldrop, two
daughters, two step daughters, three sisters, five
grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Preceding him in death were his parents and two
sisters.
From: James D. Gramke