Arthur Gulliver Obituary

Arthur William Gulliver

Arthur William Gulliver, 91, died in Omaha, Nebraska on February 11, 2013 surrounded by his family and the music he loved. A musical celebration of his life will be held February 18, 11:00 am, at the Ralston United Church of Christ, Ralston, Nebraska.

Art Gulliver, the youngest of five children, was born to Arthur Francis Gulliver and Florence McQueen Cone Gulliver at the family home in Wayne, Nebraska, on Sept. 22, 1921. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1942 from Wayne State College and taught vocal and instrumental music before beginning a career in meteorology.

He entered the US Army as a meteorology cadet in 1942 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. He served in the 18th Weather Squadron in England, in the 21st Weather Squadron (Germany) and, after cessation of hostilities, in the HQ 9th Air Force Weather Central at Bad Kessingen, Germany.

After the War he was Senior Meteorologist with Mid-Continent Airlines, Kansas City, Missouri, before becoming a civilian meteorologist at the new USAF Weather Central (AFGWC), Andrews AFB, Maryland, and the First Weather Service Special Projects Section, where he rose to become Chief of the Data Processing, Integration and Analysis Branch. In November, 1957, the functions of the Weather Central were moved to Offutt AFB, Bellevue, Nebraska; Mr. Gulliver and his family moved to Ralston, Nebraska. He was Chief Technical Adviser to the Commander and Assistant to the Operations Officer of the Air Force Global Weather Central (Strategic Air Command) until his retirement in 1987. During his tenure, the center became the largest real-time environmental data processing center in the U.S. Upon his retirement, the Arthur W. Gulliver Heritage Hall, now located in the new Air Force Global Weather Agency building at Offutt Air Force Base, was dedicated in his honor.

As supervising meteorologist in the classified "Cold War" unit of the Weather Service Special Projects Section, Arthur Gulliver worked on many top-secret projects. He became the Air Force's expert in forecasting Soviet and Arctic weather. He made the critical two-day cloud forecast of clear skies for the first U-2 reconnaissance aircraft flight over the Soviet Union on July 4, 1956. He was involved in weather support for many programs assigned highest priority by the President of the United States. These included the U-2 and SR-71 reconnaissance programs, the DOD Meteorological satellites, and overhead reconnaissance satellites.

Mr. Gulliver received several military decorations as well as the USAF Meritorious Civilian Service Medal and the AFGWC Commanders Award. He was a member of the American Meteorological Society since 1945, a charter member of the National Weather Association, and a member of the 8th Air Force Historical Society. He founded the 18th Weather Squadron Historical group and wrote their newsletter. He also served as the weather consultant for the WWII English Airfield control tower built by the 8th Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio.

Art Gulliver sang with the Omaha Symphonic Chorus and served on its board. He was a member of the Ralston United Church of Christ where he served as chancel choir director for 30 years. He was a member of the Lions Club International, and was active in Boy Scouts of America.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Henry and Robert Gulliver, and sisters, Mary Marx and Dorothy Hanks (Wichita, Kansas).

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Arlene McDermott Gulliver whom he married on September 9, 1943 in Moville, Iowa. By their children: Jeanne Kros (Mike), Crescent, Iowa; Judy Gulliver Burch (John), Lawrence, Kansas; and Bruce Gulliver (Deb Habel), Portland Oregon. By ten grandchildren: Jonathan Pearce (Kate), St. Paul, Minnesota; Tyler Pearce (Maria), Olathe, Kansas; Lauren Pearce and Melissa and Charlotte Burch, Lawrence, Kansas; Tomi Cole, Glenwood, Iowa; Jenna Stanley, Ralston Nebraska; Evan Stanley (Layna), Glenwood, Iowa; and Ian and Kirk Gulliver, Portland, Oregon. And by four great-grandchildren: Taylor, Trygve, Aiden, and Deagan.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Omaha Symphonic Chorus Endowment Fund or to the Gulliver Scholarship Fund at Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska.

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