Allen B. Headley, age 80, passed away Monday, May 26, 2008 at his home in Pensacola , FL. Allen was born in Rochester , NY , son of Robert T. and Barbara Allen Headley. CDR Headley and his wife resettled in Pensacola after his retirement from the Navy in 1976.

A US Naval Academy graduate and aviator, his twenty-four year naval career included two combat tours in Vietnam aboard the USS Oriskany as Operations Officer and Executive Officer of an attack squadron during 1966 to 1967. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 14 Air Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" and 3 stars, Navy Unit Commendation twice, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon , and the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Gallantry Cross Color . He then served as the Commanding Officer of VT-6, NAS Pensacola, FL, and then for the remaining 5 years of his career, served as the Air Operations Officer for NAS Key West, FL.

Allen is survived by his wife of 56 years, Anne Wiggins Headley, his brother and sister-in-law Robert T. and Margie Headley of Ormond Beach, FL, daughter Ellen H. Parks and son-in-law Thomas C. Parks of Dothan, Alabama, daughter Barbara H. Jones of McDavid, FL, grandchildren Elizabeth Parks, T.C. Parks, Margaret Anne Parks, Allen Tanner Headley, and a great grandchild Catherine Elizabeth Headley.

CDR Headley was a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club, Distinguished Life member of the Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch and Sheriffs Association, and NRA Benefactor. He enjoyed big game fishing with friends, boating with family, hunting, farming, community service, and many other hobbies during his life in retirement. Allen was a mentor to all who knew him, and will always be remembered for his kindness, generosity, and his life's example of service to others and duty to country.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial gifts in his memory to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, 1750 Radford Blvd , Suite B, Pensacola , FL 32508 .

Visitation was held on Sunday, June 1, 2008, at the Oak Lawn Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services were held at All Faiths Chapel on NAS, Pensacola , at 12:00 PM, Monday, June 2, 2008. Burial followed in the Barrancas National Cemetery with full military honors.