Gale Ahern

Gale Dene Ahern, 62, of La Plata, MD, died June 27, 2011, at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC. Gale enlisted in the Air Force in 1968 as a Jet Engine Mechanic and served in Vietnam. In 1974 he became a Criminal Investigator for the Office of Special Investigations (OSI). He retired with 20 years active duty in 1988 and returned to OSI as a civilian special agent in general criminal investigations. He also held OSI headquarter positions of Polygraph Program Manager; Director of Warfighting Directorate; and Inspector General. He recently retired with 43 years of service with the Air Force. He had a great passion for riding his Harley. He was a member of the Harley Owners Group All American Chapter, Hughesville, MD and the Blue Knights MD IV Chapter. He also participated each year in America’s 9/11 Foundation ride “remembering the heroes.” He also rode with the Patriot Guard escorting the bodies of fellow OSI agents to the burial site where the families were sheltered from protestors. Born May 19, 1949, in White Hall, IL, he was the son of the late Clifford Dennis Ahern and the late Wanda Rae Brown Ahern. Predeceased by his parents; father-in-law, Joseph S. Alred. Survived by his wife of 43 years, Cody; son, Scott Ahern of Las Vegas, NV; daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Mark Gandee of Issue, MD; grandchildren, Ryan, Hagen and Haley Gandee; mother- in-law, Phyllis Alred of Roodhouse, IL; brothers, Gary Ahern and his wife Pat of Wood River, IL; Danny Ahern and his wife Diane of New Berlin, IL; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Victoria and her husband, James A. Hiatt, of Alton, IL; sister-in-law, Deborah Vinyard and her fiancé James H. Everhart, Jr. of La Plata, MD; as well as many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 28, 2011, from 3PM to 7PM at New Life Wesleyan Church, 9690 Shepherd’s Creek Place, La Plata, MD 20646. Funeral service will be held on Monday, August 29, 2011, at 12 Noon at New Life Wesleyan Church. Interment will be on Monday, August 29, 2011, at 3PM at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. Pallbearers will be CMSgt Tony Black, SMSgt Steve Johnson, MSgt John Percey, SA Shawn Simonton, SA Keith Burba, SA Omar Algeciras. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made for cancer education and research in memory of Gale D. Ahern, Washington Hospital Center Foundation, Attn: Dennis Boyle, 110 Irving Street, NE, East Building, Washington, DC 20010.

Gale Ahern

May 19, 1949 - June 27, 2011