Freddie Risenstein

age 79, died Tuesday, September 18, 2012, after a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 22, 2012, at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home preceded with visitation at 1:00 p.m. His burial will include full military honors with internment in the Veteran's cemetery adjoining the funeral home. The Reverend Steve Abbott will officiate. Survivors include his devoted only child, Diana Spencer, and her husband, James V. Spencer III, his two granddaughters, Shannon Poole (Christopher) and Stephanie Smith ( Dr. S. Jason Smith) and his two great-granddaughters, Alexandra Poole and Sophia Smith, all of Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. Risenstein was born in Mc Calla, Alabama in 1933. He graduated from McAdory High School in 1951 and completed his undergraduate studies at Merced College in California while on active duty at Castle Air Force Base. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict and proudly served his country from 1951 until 1973 in the elite Strategic Air Command including two tours of duty in Vietnam. He provided in-flight refueling in KC-135 aircraft for many U.S. Air Force pilots during those years including General Chuck Yeager. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster for meritorious achievement under extremely hazardous conditions in the air war over Vietnam, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Outstanding Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Unit Citation Award with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. After his military retirement in Orlando, Florida, he owned and operated his own heating and air conditioning business, retired again and moved back to Alabama becoming a certified educator with the Jefferson County school system where he taught and mentored many students in the vocation of heating and air conditioning repair. Upon his retirement from teaching he enjoyed serving as a civilian pilot in the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the United States Air Force, and as an active member of the Flint Hill Masonic Lodge where he served from 2002-2003 as its Worshipful Master. He will be missed by his family, his many life-long friends, his former students, his Masonic Lodge members, and his military comrades from the Strategic Air Command. Pallbearers will be Dr. S. Jason Smith, Christopher Poole, Buddy Bunn, Ray Johnson, Johnny McCullough, Drew Cushing, A. Eric Johnston and Alvie Seamon. Honorary pallbearers will be the Masonic members of Flint Hill Lodge No. 810. The family wishes to thank the dedicated caregivers who cared for "Ted" during his illness and who helped him retain his dignity, courage and marvelous sense of humor until his death. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Shelby County Humane Society, the Wounded Warrior Project of America, or the Alzheimer's Association of Central Alabama.