Douglas Ronald Bibler – Lieutenant, United States Navy

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Lieutenant Douglas Bibler was the navigator in my crew in AEWBARRONPAC flying WV-2 aircraft on early warning missions from Midway Island to Alaska 1960-1962.

He was one of the best navigators I have ever known. He had a master’s degree in Physics and was superb at keeping the aircraft on track with little or no outside navigation aids.

He transitioned to the carrier based A-6 attack aircraft and was killed in an A-6 crash on a night training mission over the Chesapeake Bay on September 27, 1966.

He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery and I was a pall bearer at his funeral.

R.H. “Moose” Bruce, CDR USN (Ret.)

Saturday, October 1, 1966
Donald Ronald Bibler

Died Tuesday, September 27, 1966 as a result of Naval plane crash in Chesapeake Bay. Lieutenant T. Douglas T. Bibler, husband of Mrs. CHarlene R. Bibler of 417 E. Farmington Road, Virginia Beach and son of Ronald Bibler and Pauline Bibler.

The remains will arrive in Norfolk Friday and be taken to H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, 2002 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach for viewing at 7:00 pm and a Rosary service at 8:00 pm.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, October 1, 1966 at 2:00 pm in the Oceans Naval Air Station Chapel. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery Monday, October 2, 1966 at 3:00 pm. Kindly omit flowers.

11 February 2004:

Charlene Rae (Spicher) Bibler, 67, of 202 Riverview 4E, a homemaker, died of lung cancer Monday at Peace Hospice in Great Falls.

A memorial service is noon Saturday at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel, with burial of ashes in Hingham at a later date. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Schnider Funeral Home.

Survivors include her husband, John Diaz of Great Falls; sons Ron (Julie) Bibler and Bruce (Kim) Bibler of Great Falls and Lt. Col Mark (Becky) Bibler of Anchorage, Alaska; a brother, Bill (Sharon) Spicher of Hingham; a sister, Gail Meyer of Great Falls; seven grandchildren and five step-grandchildren.

Char was born March 9, 1936, in Havre, to Charles Rodney and Hildegarde Marie (Gehlen) Spicher. She graduated in 1954 from Hingham High School and then attended what was then known as Montana State University in Missoula, where she met Douglas Ronald Bibler. They married Sept. 10, 1955.

As a military wife, she traveled and raised her family in Monterey, Calif., Hawaii, and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Upon Doug’s death in a military aircraft accident in 1966, she returned to Montana and settled in Great Falls.

She met John Diaz in 1971 and they were married on Jan. 4, 1977. Together they owned and operated the Missouri Inn south of Great Falls from 1977 to 1981. From 1981 to 1998, they owned and operated Diaz Trucking.

Charlene loved gardening, bridge, bowling, conversation and their dog, DJ.

In addition to her first husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Daryl Spicher; and a sister, Lynne Spicher.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Falls Quilt Guild, P.O. Box 6592, Great Falls, MT, 59406, for the Peace Hospice Quilt Project; or to the donor’s choice.

BIBLER, DOUGLAS RONALD

  • Lieutenant, United States Navy
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 09/09/1936
  • DATE OF DEATH: 09/27/1966
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 37  SITE 965
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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