Obituary of Fancher Wakefield

Fancher B. Wakefield, 88, of Port St. Lucie, passed away on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at Harbor Place, Port St. Lucie.

Born in Bayonne, NJ, he had been a resident of the Treasure Coast for over 30 years coming from Holbrook, NY.

During World War II he served in the U.S. Army and was a participant in the "Battle of the Bulge".

Before retirement he was an aeronautical engineer specializing in hydraulic systems with Northrup-Grumann and was instrumental in the development of the F14 and was involved in the design of the Apollo Lunar Lander and International Space Station.

He was a member of the Veterans Club at Harbor Place, the SAE and the Aircraft Pilots Association.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Catherine Wakefield of Port St. Lucie; his son, Dennis Hurford and his wife Jane of Greenville, SC; his daughters, Patricia Hurford Danaher and her husband James of Port St. Lucie and Mary Ann Hurford Wick and her husband Bob of Boston, MA, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Friday, July 17, 2015, at the Forest Hills Funeral Home, Palm City, FL. The funeral service will be at 1:00 PM in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be private in the Forest Hills Memorial Park, Palm City. A celebration of life and reception will follow Harbor Place in Port St. Lucie with military honors being presented by the U.S. Army.

For those who wish, contributions may be made to the Treasure Coast Hospice, 1201 SE Indian Street, Stuart, FL 34997, or at 772/403-4530 or on line at

www.tchospices.org