Homer Lee Stillens

Homer Lee Stillens passed from this earth on Thursday, October 12, 2017 in Houston, Texas at the age of 97. He was born March 15, 1920 in San Jose, Calif. to Albert (Bert) Stillens and Grace Franz. He graduated from Mountain View High School in 1938 and attended San Jose State College, then worked at a bank in Mountain View and later joined the Army Air Corps.

Lee graduated from cadet flight training at Stockton, Calif., was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and married Dorothy (Dottie) Hoffman all on the same day. Lee served where he was needed as a flight instructor during World War II and later as a pilot (logging flight time in B-24, B-17, B-29 bombers and C-47 cargo planes, among others), Quartermaster, Budget Officer and Comptroller in the U.S., England and Korea during a 26 1/2 year career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as Lt. Colonel.

Lee and Dottie have one daughter, Susan. After retirement, Lee purchased and operated a small avocado orchard on San Jacinto Circle in Fallbrook, Calif. Lee and Dottie sold the farm after 20 years and moved to the East Ridge community in Fallbrook, where Dottie died in 1994.

Lee later married Elaine Marcetti Shearer (who was classmates with Dottie and whose late husband Clyde Shearer was a classmate of Lee's and also an Air Force career officer), and they divided time between California and her home in Texas, traveling cross country by motor home.

Lee’s many hobbies over the years included playing the organ, photography, wood working, lapidary, silver smithing, stained glass and travel. He was also partial to his dogs, especially his last Cairn terrier “Sandy,” who enjoyed daily three mile walks and provided faithful companionship, but passed before Lee.

He is survived by his second wife, Elaine Shearer-Stillens; daughter, Susan Litle; three granddaughters, Dorothy, Susan and Andrea; several great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and three step-children.

Visitation will be on November 2, 2017 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Berry-Bell and Hall Fallbrook Mortuary. Funeral service will be at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Fallbrook at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 3, 2017, with internment and committal service immediately following the service at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, Calif.