_Alfred F. Byrne passed away on February 12, 2007. Alfred (Al) was born December 9, 1921, on a farm near Grangeville, Idaho. He graduated from Grangeville High School in 1939 and farmed with his father until August 1942 when he was inducted into the Army and assigned to the Air Force. He served in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic and aerial engineer. He served in World War II in India, logging 592 flight hours over the Himalayan Mountains (the Hump)._ After his discharge in October 1945, Al enrolled at the University of Idaho to study Engineering, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in June 1950. He met his wife, Pieternella (Nella) Lanting, at the University. They were married on December 27, 1947, and graduated together in June 1950.
Al and Nella spent most of their life together in Burien, moving to Spokane in 2001 to be close to their son. Al was preceded in death by his wife, Nella, and his daughter, Grace Byrne. Al is survived by his son, Leonard, of Spokane, and granddaughter, Elizabeth Churchill, of Burlington, Vt.
Al worked as an engineer for the Boeing Company for 35 years in Seattle and Huntsville, Ala. He worked on weapon systems and in the Space Program during the Moon Shots. He wrote for and directed the preparation of the Astronauts Handbook on the Space Vehicles. Al was a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Washington. He was appointed twice by Governors of the State of Washington to serve on the State Board of Registration for Engineers and Land Surveyors._ After retiring, Al found that he missed writing as a creative outlet and began writing stories based on his past experiences, which stretched from following a walking plow to writing for Astronauts.
TO A WRITER
_If you would a writer be,_
right from the start_
believe what you say
_and write from the heart_
and there will come a day
_when what you say
_will by you stay
_and be a part_ of you
_that all can see._
Alfred F. Byrne, 2003
Memorial Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 2, at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church, 15003 14th Ave. S.W., Burien, WA 98168. Memorial contributions may be made to the building fund at the church.___
