Maj. Dwain “Doc” Wise, of Virginia Beach, died at 6:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015, at the Hoy Center at Westminster Canterbury. He was 91.
Dwain was the husband of Ann Wise, who survives him, and the son of the late Emmett Clayton Wise and Bernice Kunce Wise. He was also preceded in death by brothers, Dean and Kenneth and sisters Wilma, Pauline and Ruth.
Dwain was born in Storm Lake, Iowa, on March 5, 1924, and graduated from Truesdale High School (Iowa) in 1941. He joined the Marines in 1942 and was commissioned on Nov. 1, 1943, as a second lieutenant in the U. S. Marine Corps. While stationed at Edenton, North Carolina, Marine Corps Air Training Base, he met and fell in love with Nurse Dorothy Ann Rhodes of Portsmouth. They married on Oct. 14, 1944, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Portsmouth.
Dwain acquired his nickname “Doc” while serving in the USMC as an aviator and flight instructor for 22-1/2 years (1942 to 1964). He accumulated over 9,000 flight hours in numerous types of aircrafts, including bombers, transports and jets. He earned seven Air Medals and participated in military operations during WWII in Guam, Saipan, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Occupied Japan. He served in North and South Korea during the Korean War, 1950 to 1951. He instructed and trained flight personnel at various locations, including Pensacola, Florida and Cherry Point, North Carolina.
After he retired from the Marine Corps in March 1964, Dwain began a second career in the mortgage banking business with his own company, U.S. Mortgage Corp., then with Sovran Bank, First & Merchants Corp. and Nations Bank. He retired in July 1985, as president of Sovran Equity Mortgage Corp.
He enjoyed golfing, fishing and bird hunting with friends. For the last several years, he has devoted himself to Ann, his dear wife of 71 years, also a Hoy Center resident.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Diana Amburn (Dan), of Burlington, North Carolina; son, Mike Wise (Kathy), of Virginia Beach; daughter, Patricia Benson (Bruce), of Virginia Beach; grandchildren, Susan Cobb, Drew Amburn, Wade Wise, Clay Wise, Christopher Benson and Andrew Benson; brother, LeRoy; and nine great-grandchildren.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Doc’s caregivers, Indira, Chelsea, First Floor Enhanced Services and third floor Hoy Center staff.
A graveside service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, at Princess Anne Memorial Park. A reception will follow at Westminster Canterbury.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, 1279 N. Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach or to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Please leave online condolences for the family at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts.
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