Kauffman, Cyril Landis

Cyril Landis Kauffman passed away Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, at his home in Roanoke, Va.

Cy was a very special man who unselfishly served his country, his family and his friends. Cy was born in Manchester, Iowa, on March 16, 1918. Like many of his contemporaries, Cy spent several years in the Civilian Conservation Corps before enlisting in the Army when the United States entered World War II. He saw action in the Pacific and was captured by the Japanese on the island of Corregidor. He survived 42 months in prisoner-of-war camps in the Philippines and Formosa. After his discharge from the Army in 1946, Cy returned to Iowa, where he earned a B.A. in economics from the University of Iowa.

Most of Cy's career was spent as an engineer in the aerospace/defense industry and he had the distinctive honor of being a member of the team that sent Apollo 11 to the moon. After many rewarding years in this field, he retired from Litton Industries/Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., in 1984. Having grown tired of gulf hurricanes, Cy moved to Asheville, N.C., where he lived until 2003. At that time he moved to Roanoke, Va., to be close to his daughters and their families. Cy was an avid bowler and, as well, enjoying the fellowship of the many good friends in the leagues of which he was a member, he received recognition for multiple high point awards.

Surviving family include daughters, Leah Kauffman Coffman, her husband Ken, their children and families; Laura and Monty Cox, great-grandson Keith Russell Cox; Doug and Jessie Coffman; and Patricia Rae Wenger and her daughters, Amanda and Jessica Wenger. Also surviving are three brothers, Warren, George and Russell Kauffman; and sisters, Annola Keegan, June Auman and Faye Sperfslage; as well as beloved numerous nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Lucille Kauffman; sister, Marjorie McDowell; and brothers, Lowell, Clair Earl and Clark Kauffman.

 Services: 2 p.m. Sunday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, where there also will be military rites. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Memorial donations may be given to the Salvation Army in Cy's name.

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