Vincent LeRoy Bacon

Vincent LeRoy Bacon was born on Flag Day, June 14, 1922, to Marion Francis Bacon and Jane Rose Butterfield at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He died on January 14, 2022, just 5 months shy of his 100th birthday. He had been under hospice care at Casa de las Campanas since December 1. 

Vincent graduated from South Side High School in 1940. He attended Franklin College, in Franklin, Indiana, and worked for one year at General Electric on a jet engine for Rolls-Royce before entering the Naval Academy in June of 1942. In 1945, he graduated, and seventeen days later married. Vincent received his “wings” from the US Navy in 1948. The next five years found him flying helium filled Naval Airships (blimps), helium balloons, and fixed winged aircraft including three types of helicopters. 

A family medical condition compelled him to leave the Navy after ten years of service, and Lieutenant Bacon moved his family to San Diego. He became an aeronautics design engineer and worked on jets and then the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space missions. He even did a small bit of design work on the Space Shuttle. He retired from his primary work in 1977, but still kept busy with traveling, hobbies, church, family, and friends.

He leaves behind a wife of 76 years, 3 children, 3 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. He led a life of hard work, integrity, and duty to country. 

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