John E. Filios, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret), died June 12, 2018, in Bedford, MA. Fiercely independent and a self-described "fighter," among his favorite sayings was "never give up!"

Born in Westfield, MA, John graduated from Westfield High School. With just $500 in his pocket, he enrolled at Massachusetts State College, receiving a B.S. in Chemistry. He enlisted in the Army (Air Corps) and later accepted a commission in the US Air Force, where he served for 25 years. John's military service spanned three wars: WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. As an "Old Crow," John worked in radar, radar countermeasures, and electronic warfare. He flew missions over Alaska, Korea, and Greenland. He was stationed in Spokane, WA, when he met Eleanor Gould. John and Ellie were married 59 years, until her death. His last duty station was Hanscom AFB. During his military career he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal, among others.

Following his military career, he earned an M.Sc. in engineering management and did advanced graduate studies in education. He taught industrial arts at Burlington High School for 13 years. His last job at age 70 took him to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean as an engineering consultant.

He was a lifelong teacher, learner, grower and builder. He built an electric car before it was fashionable, built a garage with a double saddle (hyperbolic paraboloid) roof, and grew championship flowers. His hobbies included singing with the Bedford Choral Society, woodworking and building timber frame houses, playing the fife, reading, and gardening. He loved classical music and poetry, history and nature, and had an insatiable curiosity about nearly everything.

John was very proud of his adopted hometown of Bedford and was active in many local and civic organizations. He was a Captain of the Bedford Minuteman Company; served on the Historic Preservation Committee and board of the Bedford Historical Society; was instrumental in the establishment of Bedford Depot Park; hosted a weekly local cable talk show, "Talk of the Town"; and took every opportunity to promote and preserve the Bedford Flag. He enjoyed preserving and maintaining the historic Job Lane House. He was named Bedford's Citizen of the Year in 2007.

He was a lifetime member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) (Paul Revere Chapter), and a member of Anthony-Hunt-Hamilton American Legion, Post 0221. Of all his accomplishments, John was most proud of helping to pass state legislation to exempt retired pay and survivor benefits from taxation for all uniformed service members and widows of veterans living in Massachusetts, presenting Governor Cellucci with a Bedford Flag after the signing.

He is survived by his four children, John G.; Eric; Elena and her husband Michael; Peggy and her husband Jerry; and five grandchildren, Elizabeth, Stephen, Catherine, Emmet, and Kelly; and two siblings, Angela Haverly and Frederick Filios, as well as his large extended family and many friends.

His family would like to thank Grace Tilton, the staff and care team of Unit 4C of the Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans Memorial Hospital, and his many caregivers and companions, especially Nash, Colleen, Reuben, Nora, and Margaret.

The family will greet friends at the Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Road, Bedford, on Sunday, June 24, 2018, from 2:00-5:00 PM. A funeral service will be held at the First Church of Christ Congregational, 25 Great Road, Bedford, on Monday, June 25, at 10:00 AM. Interment will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's memory to CSF/Dollars for Scholars (IMO J Filios in memo), PO Box 585, Bedford MA 01730, or the Founders Scholarship Fund of the Paul Revere Chapter-MOAA, c/o HFCU, 1610 Eglin Street, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731.