John A Bayer

John Anthony Bayer Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, brother and friend John Anthony Bayer, 86, of El Paso, Texas was called home to our Heavenly Father on December 4, 2020. He was born on September 3, 1934, in Philadelphia, PA., to the late Francis Anthony† and Eleanor Vogel Bayer†. John graduated in 1952 from Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia, PA. In 1954 he enlisted in the US Army. He attended Radar and Corporal Guided Missile Schools before being assigned to White Sands Missile Range in 1955. In 1957 he completed his 3 years of military service then continued at White Sands as a Civil Servant. On February 7, 1959, John married Epimenia Ortiz from Alamogordo, NM at the Whites Sands Chapel. Together they moved to El Paso, TX and built a home that they have resided in for almost 62 years. He was preceded in death by his first son of 31 years, Peter Anthony Bayer†. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Francis Joseph Bayer Jr.†, sisters Marcella Rhodes† and Barbara Killian†. According to Paul Arthur, Deputy to the Commander of the White Sands Test Center, "recognition as a gifted young electronics technician came early for Mr. Bayer by being assigned primary responsibility, as a young soldier for the operation, maintenance and repair of the Corporal Missile System Doppler Ground Station during testing at White Sands." During his six years with Sergeant, John developed the support instrumentation necessary to collect data during tests. This included supporting the first off-range launch of a ballistic missile (a Sergeant) into White Sands. In 1966 John transferred to the Pershing Missile System. Because of his outstanding performance he was selected to establish a Pershing test team to conduct government tests anywhere at any time. From 1970 to 1975, John was the Government Test Conductor in charge of every Pershing test firing from McGregor Range on Fort Bliss; Fort Wingate, New Mexico; Green River, Utah; and Blanding, Utah. In 1978 John went on to become a member of the Patriot Test Team. In 1980, Arthur stated, "Bayer planned, coordinated and conducted the most complex test ever completed at WSMR when he conducted the heavy load air defense test of Patriot involving five Patriot batteries, a battalion command and control station, 54 fighter aircraft (friendly and threat), two stand-off jammer aircraft and 100 simulated threat aircraft." Arthur says Major General Street, the Patriot Project Manager, was so impressed with Bayer's efforts, he asked that Bayer be in charge of every test activity for Patriot whether it was contractor, government or operational testing. On December 2, 1983, he was made a member of “The Honorable Order of Saint Barbara”, initiated into the traditional brotherhood of Stonehurlers, Archers, Catapulters, Rocketeers and Gunners and all artillerymen. In 1989, John retired from civil service and went to work for Raytheon at White Sands. While at Raytheon he became an expert in another missile system, the Stinger. He trained a Stinger Firing Team and then successfully completed the developmental test firings and fly-to-buy firing series from 1992 to 1997. In addition, John continued work with the Patriot project. The 1990’s presented new challenges to Patriot with the Gulf War and the introduction of the PAC 3 capability. His work on these programs with Raytheon netted him the "Army Contractor Tester of the Year" award for 1997 from the American Defense Preparedness Association. John retired from Raytheon in January 2000. On September 21, 2000 John Bayer was inducted into The White Sands Missile Range HALL OF FAME. John served on the WSMR Historical Foundation Board of Directors. He will always be remembered for his incredible work ethic, having received several Outstanding Attendance awards, his integrity, honesty and fairness to all. John held local, city and state level positions in the Parents Teachers Association of Texas. He was a Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus as well as an active member at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He served on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso from 2010-2015. John and Eppie supported and assisted Seminarians in the Diocese of El Paso. John is survived by his adoring wife of 61 years, Eppie O. Bayer and his 5 loving children: Mary Bayer Hagan and her husband, Daniel, Lawrence Christopher Bayer, Tracy Elizabeth Bayer, Felicia Bayer Voldahl, and Laurie Ann Jonas. John leaves behind 14 grandchildren to honor and cherish his memory: John Daniel Hagan, Jasmine Bayer Riddle and her husband DeAngelo, Jacqueline Epimenia Bayer, Lawrence Christopher Bayer II, Margaret Katherine Rose Bayer and Nicholas Alvarez, Edward John Francis Shukitt, William Christopher Thomas Shukitt, Ronald Keith Voldahl and his wife Melinda, Madeline Nicole Milner and her husband Steffen, Ema Grace Voldahl, Daniel Fredrick John Aaron, Dalton Patrick Jonas, Ella Grace Szanyi, and Ryan Alexander Szanyi as well as five great-grandchildren: Aiden Nicholas Riddle, Audrey Symone Riddle, Lonnie James Voldahl, Maximiliano Peter Bayer Alvarez, Emilia Martha Bayer Alvarez of El Paso. John is also survived by his sister Eleanor Bayer of Philadelphia, PA and many nieces and nephews. Services will be on Saturday, January 2, 2021 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Sunset Funeral Homes-West. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 services will be private.