Fay N. Steele

Fay N. Steele, age 100, resident of Washington, D.C. and native of Somerville, Tennessee, departed this life Wednesday evening, November 30, 2016 at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C.

Services of Remembrance for Mr. Steele were conducted at 11 A.M. Thursday, December 8, 2016 at the Somerville First Baptist Church with Bro. Stan Smith, pastor of the Somerville First Baptist Church, officiating. Interment with Full Military Honors followed in the Somerville City Cemetery.  Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center - Main Chapel of Somerville.

Fay Steele was born July 29, 1916 in Somerville, Tennessee, the son of John Steele and Bessy Fletcher Steele. He joined the U.S. Army in September 1937 with the intent of becoming an Aerial Photographer. He wanted to sign up for thirty years, but could only sign up for three years at a time. His career included flying in 78 Combat missions. Sixty five of these missions were flown as Waist Gunner and Combat Photographer with the Ninth Air Force, in which he earned the Air Medal with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters. The other thirteen missions were with the Ninth Troop-Carrier Command (Airborne) and included two Combat Glider landings. As a result of one of these landings, Fay was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with a V. Later, he was attached to several American Embassies, including the Soviet Union, France, Indonesia and Egypt. Fay retired on November 19, 1957.

Along with this military career, Fay became a track and field star. In 1940, while stationed in Panama, he became the first person to run from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean in one day. In September of 1990, Fay made his 5th trans-Isthmus run exactly fifty years after his first run. Believe it or not, he made the run 2 ½ hours faster! This is after he established a new World Record for men over 70 years old in 1986. Fay was also a star in the U.S. National Senior Olympics Championship, entering the extremely challenging Decathlon. Of the seven times he competed, he won six times!

After his Military Career, Fay embarked on a Zoo career as a Bird Specialist. In this twenty year stint, he went to eight different U.S. zoos. He was then hired by the Smithsonian to do a study of endangered birds on the Mauritius Island. As a result of this work, Fay was elected to membership in the prestigious International Explorer’s Club that includes such members as Charles A. Lindberg, Prince Philip of England and James Doolittle.

Fay moved to the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C. in 1996. He was very active, becoming an “Iron Man” under the walking program, writing an autobiography titled “A Man of Steele”, and providing musical enjoyment with his cataloged collection of 45 records.

Fay never forgot his hometown, his home church and, especially, his duty to his God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He taught many of the young people at Somerville First Baptist Church in Sunday School and youth programs.

Fay had no surviving family. However, Fay has considered Niki Wilson of Somerville, whom he brought to Somerville First Baptist Church as a youth, his “granddaughter” and she and her family have been his “family” and care providers for many years. Most of his older friends have passed on but many of those younger folks whom he influences, live on with fond memories of Fay.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers were Blake Neil, Justin Pilkington, Justin Wainscott, Seneth Legendre, Josh Jenkins and Corey Rhea. Honorary pallbearers were Rickey Proctor, Virgil Proctor, Mike Proctor, Andy Jenkins, David Wilson, Bob Osburn, Shane Burch and Will Middlecoff.

Memorials may be directed to the Somerville First Baptist Church, 12685 S. Main Street, Somerville, TN 38068.