E5 Lloyd Tasso Fisher, born February 28, 1885 in Braymer, Caldwell, Missouri, died August 28, 1974 in Cedar Falls, Iowa; Married (1) 1915 Pearl Thomas, died 1944; married (2) March 28, 1944 Florence Benson Briggs, died April 27, 1973. Two children.

You are never Too Old To
Learn To Fly, Says Man, 73

TOLEDO - As long as you can pass a flight physical. you're never too old to fly an airplane.

That's the opinion of L. T. Fisher of Toledo, former owner of a Tama electrical business.

Fisher ought to know about that never-to-old-to-learn business. He's 73 years old and he got his private pilot's license only a month ago.

Ninety Hours

Because he was unable to get his instruction hours with the frequency that he wanted to, Fisher's fight lessons stretched out over more than a year's time and embraced some 40 hours of flight training, most of it with Vic Varnum, Tama. "He was very particular with me and I tried to be a good pupil," Fisher says.

Since he made his solo hop last August, Fisher has been spending a lot of time at the controls of the 2-place, wheelcontroll Taylorcraft plane in which he shares ownership with George Rosenberger and Jim Aiken. The plane is based at a field at the south edge of Tama. In the past 8 months Fisher has piled up 50 hours of solo time.

For the record this means that this mild-mannered but determined flight enthusiast has some 90 logged hours in the air.

Fisher a farm boy from Missouri, when he left home in 1907, says that his interest in flying actually dates back to the Wright brothers' famous flight at Kitty Hawk in December of 1903.

But his own flight in an airplane did not come until many years after that-during which considerable progress had been made in the airplane.

"I was interested in flying a very long time before I had my first ride. And it was a long time after that before I felt I was able to take instruction and to share in the ownership of an airplane," Fisher says.

First Flight

Fisher's first ride in an airplane came, not in America but in England, and not in peacetime but during the war.

Overseas as a YMCA worker, Fisher was stationed on Salisbury Plain in England. On several occasions her had tried to "hitch a ride" in one of the military aircraft there. Finally he got his chance, and rode aloft in an old DH-9, a type of bomber in its day. It was a 2-place, open cockpit ship and the trip was on a local photographic mission.

Fisher didn't ride in an airplane again until he paid for a passanger hop from the State fairground at Des Moines. Unsure as to the year of that flight, Fisher thinks it was in the early 1920's.

Three or 4 years ago, the flight bug started to bite in ernest, when some Tama county friends of Fisher's took him on several hops.

"They'd take me up and then say 'take over the controls and see how it is'. That did it," Fisher remembers with a smile.

"That's when I really began to get enthusiastic. Some time after that, Aiken, Rosenberger and I bought the little plane. I'd only had a few lessons before we bought the ship."

"Obey the Rules"

Fisher says that he has no fear, no reluctance whatever about flying.

"I really think that it's safer that driving and automobile-," he says.

"But you must use good judgement and you must obey the rules. I don't fly when the weather is bad. I don't fly when the weather is threatening. I fly for pleasure - and I enjoy every minute of it."

"I can't think of anything that has been so relaxing for me. And I think other older people would find the same enjoyment in flying that I do."

Fisher admits that his wife was very apprehensive when he first embarked on his flight training.

"But now she doesn't even say anything about it. She won't fly herself though."

Not Really Retired

Fisher says that 'he has no fear, no reluctance whatever about flying.

"I really think that it's safer than driving an automoblie-," he says.

"But you must use good judgement and you must obey the rules. I don't fly when the weather is bad. I don't fly when the weather is treatening. I fly for pleasure - and I enjoy every minute of it.

"I can't think of anything that has been so relaxing for me. And I think other older people would find the same enjoyment in flying that I do.:

Fisher admits that his wife was very apprehensive when he first embarked on his flight training.

"But now she doesn't even say anything about it. She won't fly herse;f though."

Not Really Retired

Fisher says he retired from his electrical business five years ago, and then alomist immediately amends that.

"I know better than to quit work," he says. "I've seen too many people quit work and sit down. It's no good.

Fisher came to Toledo more than a half century ago, after working on the family farm near Braymer, Mo., until he was 22.

He enrolled in Leaander-Clark College in the fall of 1907, was out a year and was graduated in 1912. Majoring in science and mathematics at college, Fisher also took a course in electrical engineering by correspondence. After college he went to work for the Tama and Toledo Electric Light and Power Compant, which later became a part of the Iowa Electric and Light Company. After 4 years with these firms, he starting in the electrical business for himself in Tama and operated that form for 37 years.

"Since my 'retirement', I still get calls from former customers of mine when I was in business. I'd just as soon not do it. But when they say thay can't get anyone else, I go and do service work and the likes for them. They were good to me when I needed them and I can't turn my back on them now. Besides, like I say, I know better than to quit work."

I Feel Fine

Fisher says that he feels extremely well. His flight physical seems to bear that out pretty well.

"I don't think I ever felt better in my life," he tells friends. "Sure I get tired. But when I get tired I quit. And when I go to bed I sleep like a baby."

Along with his business, Fisher found time to serve on the Tama town council 12 years. when he was a resident there, and on the Toledo town council for 6 years, during his residence in this city.

At Tama he belonged to the Methodist church, and Toledo, to the Evangelical United Brethren church.

He is a member of the Toledo Lions club. Not on Weekends

Does a retired man who is a flight enthusiast set any kind of flight schedule for himself?

Fisher says he does not.

"I do not fly on Sundays. The other two owners of the plane work through the week and theydon't have the opportunity to fly like I do. Si I stay away from the ship on Sundays.

"That's when I take my wife for a drive--in the car..."

L. T. Fisher, 89, Retired Tama-Toledo
Electrician and Businessman, Dies

Services for L. T. Fisher, 89, retired Tama-Toledo elerctrician and bisinessman, who died Wednesday, August 28, in Sartori Memorial Hospital, Cedar Falls, were held Friday afternoon in Otterbein United Methodist church in Toledo. Rev. Wesley Lawrence, pastor, and Rev. Donald Thompson of Lehigh, former pastor, officiated at the 2:00 service.

Mrs. Lonnie Boerm was organist and accompanied Delores Harris, soloist, who sang "In The Garden" and "No Night There". Floral tributes were cared for by Mrs. Leigh Ladd and Mrs. Harold Carlson.

Pallbearers were Millard Lundt, L. C. McCreary, George Rosenberger, Sr., and Harlan Huyck. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery, Tama.

Henderson Funeral Home of Toledo was in charge of the arrangements.

Lloyd T. Fisher was born near Braymer Mo., on Feb. 28, 1885, son of Leander and Sarah Zumbro Fisher. He attended the Braymer schools and Leander Clark College in Toledo and was graduated from Coe College, Cedar Rapids, with a degree in electrical engineering.

Mr. Fisher served overseas with the American Red Cross during World War I, and was on both the Tama and Toledo city councils and was a member of Hiram of Tyre Masonic lodge in Tama. He was member of the Toledo Lions Club and taught the Men's Bortherhood Sunday school class in Otterbein church for several years.

He was married to Pearl Thomas of Bristow in 1915 in Toledo. The couple lived in Tama, where Mr. Fisher established an electrical contracting business.

Mrs. Fisher died in 1942, and on March 28, 1944, Mr. Fisher married Florence Benson Briggs of Toledo. They lived in Toledo, where Mr. Fisher continued his business until retirement in 1968.

In 1970, they moved to the Western Home in Cedar Falls, where Mrs. Fisher died on April 27, 1973.

Surviving are a son, Glen, Traer; a daughter, Mrs. Cleo (dorothy) Stewart, Cedar Falls; four grandchildren, three great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, including Lloyd Strine of Tama, Mrs. Ruby Martin of Toledo and Mrs. Martin (Beth) Neil of Reinbeck.

Children of Lloyd Tasso Fisher and Florence Benson:

F1 Glen Fisher.

F2 Dorothy Fisher, married Cleo Stewart.