Colonel Dolores J. Haritos (USAF Ret.), 93, of Burlington and former long-time Bedford resident, died on August 9, 2021.

She was born and raised in Chelsea and was the daughter of the late Leopold and Ruth (Hanna) Hernandez.

At a young age, she earned her nursing certificate and in 1951, she enlisted in the United States Air Force. From there, Col. Haritos continued her 30-year military career which took her to the Middle East, Greece, Bangkok and North Africa, where she helped Air Force Personnel and assisted in military operating rooms.

In 1970, she married Peter T. Haritos, a World War II veteran, and after their retirement continued to be active in supporting soldiers and military families.

Col. Haritos was also committed to education, she earned two master's degrees and a Doctorate in higher education administration from Boston College. For many years, she was a teacher and director of the Center of Nursing Education at Northern Essex Community College.

She served on the US Family Health Plan at Brighton Marine Board of Directors and finance committee, which has provided health care to retired military and their families.

Col. Haritos was a member of the Heritage Park Baptist Church in Burlington. She served as the editor of The Pyramidiers, a newsletter for members of the 98 ^th Bomb group, in which her husband served during WWII. The 20-page publication went to the 1,200 members 4 times a year.

She was incredibly proud to serve her country and even took part in a large study on women in the military for the Air Force in the 1980s and has donated many items of memorabilia to the U.S. Air Force National Museum for its Exhibit of Women in the Air Force.

She was predeceased by her husband Peter T. Haritos in 2014 and sisters, Isabelle Pazyra and Constance Hernandez. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Paul and Michael Pazyra, John Haritos, Christopher Skambis, Catherine Cooper and Elaine Ayala.

A funeral service will be held at the Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Rd., Bedford, on Tuesday, September 7, at 11:00 AM, followed by burial at Shawsheen Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 1903, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433 or Boston College, Lynch School of Education, 140 Commonwealth Ave., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.