[SatNews] Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Ben Funk, a former commander of the Space Systems Division....

....and a pioneer in developing the United State's ballistic missile program and launch vehicles for NASA's Mercury and Gemini spacecraft recently died at his home in Long Beach. He was 98-years old - dying three months shy of his 99th birthday. Born in Colorado, the general attended University of Denver. During his time at the university, he flew in a Fokker Tri-motor during a fraternity event and decided to leave college to become a pilot. He earned his wings in 1936 and was commissioned a year later. During World War II, he flew the B-24 bomber and played a pivotal role in improving the B-17 and B-24 aircraft and developing the B-29 Superfortress. The last time he flew was at the age of 92, in 2005, when he piloted a PBY Catalina over southern England.

As a colonel, he attended the Air Force Institute of Technology earning a bachelor's degree in 1948 and a year later graduated from Harvard's Graduate School of Business Advanced Management Program. The general earned his first star in 1953 during a tour in Germany. In 1956, he was assigned to Los Angeles as Air Material Command's deputy director for ballistic missiles and chief of the Ballistic Missiles Office where he worked with Gen. Bernard Schriever. When the Ballistic Missile Office was elevated to command status and renamed the Ballistic Missile Center, Funk was the center's first commander. He oversaw the development of the intermediate-range Thor and long-range Atlas missiles. The general was the recipient of the first missile badge in 1958.

In 1962, General Funk and completed his Air Force career as commander of the Space Systems Division. During his tenure, he oversaw the development of the Titan III, which was used to launch military satellites and manned spacecraft during the Mercury and Gemini programs. For his accomplishments, he was presented NASA's Space Achievement Award from President John Kennedy in 1963.