Lloyd Mettes

Lloyd Quenton Mettes, 87, of Oxford, IN. and Atlanta, MO. Passed away on July 30, 2010 at St. Elizabeth Central in Lafayette, IN. after a short illness. He was born November 2, 1922 in the Healy Settlement of Macon County, MO., the second of five children of Joseph Bernard and Jewell Goldiette Roberts Mettes. Lloyd was baptized at St. Joseph's Church in the Settlement.
Lloyd started school at the age of four, graduating from Atlanta, (MO.) High School in 1940. He enlisted for service in World War II the following year, where he served in the Army Air Corps as a P-38 Reconnaissance pilot in the Pacific Theatre. One of his missions was to secure photographs for the Battle of Iwo Jima, where his low and dangerous flights provided valuable information for the crucial victory there. Lloyd later received the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and his plane was shown on a History Channel documentary.
On December 22, 1942 in Kirksville, MO. Lloyd married his school classmate, Wanda Juanita Stanfield. At the end of World War II, the couple relocated to Indiana where Lloyd received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Purdue University before being recalled to serve in the Korean War. Lloyd later served in other military locations including Thule, Greenland, retiring from the U.S. Air Force with the rank of Lt. Colonel with 40 years of active/reserve service.
Lloyd served as the District Engineer for the State of Indiana and Benton County Surveyor, and for many years operated his own land surveying business, Mettes Engineering with his wife. He was also a very adept carpenter who built several homes, including his own.
Lloyd and his wife maintained dual residences in Indiana and Missouri for most of their 65 years of marriage before she preceded him in death in 2007.
Lloyd is survived by 2 sisters, Ganell Stotts of Wichita, Kansas; Lavenia Doyle of Eagle River, Alaska; 2 sons, Roger Mettes (wife Judy) of Lafayette, IN.; Douglas Mettes (wife Diane) of Otterbein, IN.; a daughter Lieutenant Colonel Wynona Bice- Stephens of Steilacoom, Washington; 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held today, Friday at 2:00 PM at the Mt. Tabor Cemetery near Atlanta, MO., with full military honors. HAHN-GROEBER FUNERAL and CREMATION SERVICES assisted with the arrangements. Memories and condolences may be left at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com.