Lt Col. Gary Dooley

Lt. Col. Gary Wayne Dooley, 84, passed away at his home in Panama City, Florida on Friday, November 14th shortly after sunset. He was surrounded by his loving family in his final days. Gary was born in Hatfield, Indiana in 1941 and due to his military service, he had the opportunity to live in many places both overseas and in the United States. Gary graduated from Memorial High School and the University of Evansville. Gary was a sports fanatic to say the least. As far as he was concerned, it was Notre Dame Football, Hoosier Basketball and the New York Yankees against the world. His dream job was to be a Sports Analyst. If you knew him at all, you know that there is nothing more fitting, especially if it had been for the Fighting Irish! Due to the start of the Vietnam war, these dreams came to a screeching halt. In 1966, a friend on the Draft Board tipped Gary off that he was going to be drafted into the Army. Gary knew there was no greater honor than serving this beautiful country, and with zero hesitation he went straight down to the recruiting office and enlisted in the United States Air Force. Those who know Gary, know that he was an extremely accomplished man in life. He has travelled places and experienced things most young men in his hometown could only dream of. Some of his accomplishments include being the first in his family to graduate with a college degree and achieving the status of Lt. Colonel in the United States Air Force. While these accomplishments took a tremendous amount of grit and determination, one of his greatest accomplishments was something that came naturally to Gary ... the ability to leave an everlasting positive impact on every individual he encountered. While Gary never had a lot to say, but when he did, everyone knew it was "his way or the highway"! However, not even one of these things came close to how accomplished and fulfilled he felt being able to call himself Dee's husband, Michele's father, Stephanie and Ryan's grandfather and Grayson's great grandfather. He was also blessed to have incredible relationships with extended family, friends, and wonderful neighbors. The only thing that could top that is when the Hoosiers beat the Wildcats in basketball, and he could call Brenda to brag about it. He is survived and missed by his loving wife of 59 years, Deloris Dooley (Berry), daughter Michele Wilches-Loftus, adopted daughter Kim Nolen, adopted son Marvin Wetter, granddaughter Stephanie Wilches, grandson Ryan Loftus and his wife Allisyn Loftus and great grandson Grayson Wayne Loftus. Gary's extended family includes his sisters and their husbands Linda Cameron (Dooley), Carole Pokorney (Dooley), nephew Bryan Pokorney and family, and the Berry family he was lucky enough to marry into. Gary was preceded in death by his parents Roy Basil Dooley, Jr. and Helen Marie Dooley (Wigand). Funeral Service will be 1:00 PM Wednesday November 26, 2025 at Tomblinson Funeral Home in Henderson with burial to follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.Visitation will be 10:00 AM until service time at the funeral home on Wednesday.