Col. Speed died July 20.

He was born July 25, 1921, in Dallas. 

He spent his childhood in Oak Cliff, graduating from Sunset High School. July 2, 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp and served his country for 33 years. Col. Speed was a pilot in WWII, flying 67 missions, and a POW in WWII, returning home to marry the girl of his dreams, Mary Lou Carrell. He served in Korea and on Gen. Westmoreland’s staff in Vietnam. His family said he was “a hero to all who knew him.”

After retirement from the USAF, he worked as a defense contractor for Rockwell Collins and, upon retirement from Rockwell, he moved to Wylie. Col. and Mrs. Speed shared 66 years together as man and wife and, according to their family, touched many lives along the way.  

Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou Carrell Speed; daughters, Suzanne Powers and her husband Mike and Joanne Miller and her husband Ron; four granddaughters, Dana Gilbert and her husband Russell, Claudine Humphries and her husband Miles, Regina Harding and her husband Mitch and Amy McKiddy and her husband Josh; one grandson, Mike Powers Jr; and 15 great-grandchildren “whom he loved and adored,” his family said.

“He taught us all by his example of his love for his Lord and Savior, his undying love for his family and loyalty to his country. He was a man of honor, strength, courage and compassion for others,” they said.

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