Joseph Waitman
Joseph Leo Waitman
Joe Waitman was born on December 1, 1947 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He graduated from Rancho High School in 1966 and joined the Army the following year. In June of 1968 he married his High School sweetheart. He went to Vietnam a month later...July 19, 1968. After Vietnam, Joe went back to college, and began to work for Centel, in Las Vegas, where he worked for 29 years before retiring. Joe's first love was helicopters. He obtained a commercial helicopter pilot's license, and fixed wing license. After retiring from the phone company, he opened Waitman Helicopters, and manufactured composite blades for Scorpion helicopters. He was active in the Experimental Aircraft Association where he served as president for many years. He was also involved with flight line safety at the annual Oshkosh fly-in. He left behind a loving wife of 40 years, and a daughter. Joe loved flying and people. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and never met a stranger. He died May 18, 2009 from kidney failure and heart disease related to Agent Orange. He left behind many who loved him.