William Clarke O'Byrne III

Lt. Col. William Clarke O'Byrne III, 73, USAF retired, returned home to his Heavenly Father on January 5, 2022, after a yearlong battle with cancer. Born on December 21, 1948, in Shelbyville, Indiana, he spent 21 years serving his country in the United States Air Force and traveling the world before taking up permanent residence in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1993.
After graduation from Purdue University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Clarke joined the USAF in order to dodge the draft. As a Aircraft Maintenance Officer he spent his career taking care of various airplanes and the many servicemen and women tasked with maintaining a ready line of defense for this country. In 1982, he was assigned to Kirtland AFB where he fell in love with hot air balloons and the desert southwest. As his Air Force career continued, he kept up his ballooning, except for the one year he spent in South Korea, where he found the love of life, and future wife, Ailene Clyde.
Ailene and Clarke were married in August of 1990 and have spent the past 31 years supporting each other through the challenges of life.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1993, Clarke returned to Albuquerque and went on to earn his master's degree in Management. Mostly though, he continued to fly balloons and to teach new students to fly. He also became an expert in micro-meteorology. Unbeknownst to many, Clarke's first and foremost hobby was building model trains and scale buildings. He helped found the New Mexico Narrow Gauge Modular Club. When he wasn't traveling to a balloon rally, he was traveling to a train show.
Clarke is survived by his wife, Ailene (Clyde) O'Byrne. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Madison O'Byrne and Leora Catherine (Johanning) O'Byrne.
Interment will be held privately at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. A memorial will be held on Friday, January 28, at 4 p.m., at the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, followed by a balloon glow, weather permitting.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the J. Kenneth Self Shelbyville Boys and Girls Club of Shelbyville, Indiana. Please visit our online guestbook for Lt. Col. William Clarke O'Byrne at www.FrenchFunerals.com.


FRENCH - Wyoming
7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE
505.823.9400
www.FrenchFunerals.com