Victor Thomas Metz, Lt. Col., USAF, Ret.

Lieutenant Colonel Metz served our country in combat during both WWII and the Korean conflict. He made the US Air Force his career, retiring from active duty in 1970. His last duty station, from 1965 until his retirement, was at the US Air Force Academy. There he served as an instructor and as Assistant Professor and Chairman of French. In 1971, Colonel Metz was employed jointly by School District 50 and the Air Force to establish and run the CO-62 Air Force Junior ROTC unit at Westminster High School. Colonel Metz found teaching high school students and seeing them develop leadership skills very rewarding. He was particularly proud that twenty-five of his JROTC cadets received appointments to US military academies during his thirteen years at Westy and the District 50 Career Enrichment Park. Vic was born the second son of Thomas Isaac Metz and Edith May Dawson Metz, in the little coal-producing town of Barton, MD. During his youth he was a lackluster scholar but a talented artist. By all accounts, he enjoyed the role of class clown. He became an amateur boxer, an expert photographer, and an avid hiker. While still in Italy following WWII, he took courses at the University of Florence. Once back in the US, he attended West Virginia University and graduated with BA and MA degrees in foreign languages in 1952. Later he attended the University of Oregon for doctoral studies. He was married to Verna Humphrey Metz from 1947 until her passing in 1975. He was married to Margaret Ann Frizzell Metz from 1984 until her passing in 2016. He is survived by his daughters, Vicki Metz and Patti (Terry) Williams; grandchildren, Emily (Lee) Daughtry, Dan (Lindsey) Williams, Naresh Chandranatha, Sona Metz and Hayden Metz; great-grandchildren, Anna, Laurel, Clara, Henry and Declan; several of his 16 siblings; and many nieces and nephews, former students, and friends. Funeral services honoring Victor will be Friday, March 24, 2017, beginning at 10 AM, Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 7577 West 80th Avenue, Arvada, Colorado 80003. Interment with Full Military Honors follows at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Area ""B"" at 3698 South Sheridan Boulevard, in Denver, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Victor's name to: Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675 Please share your memories of Victor and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below.