Frederick Dustin "Dusty" Worthen, BHS 1942Dusty is survived by his wife of 60 years, Connie Woolley Worthen; their two daughters, Janet Worthen Moon, and Jill Worthen; two grandchildren, Eric and Deana Moon; a sister, Dorothy Ann McLean; and two brothers, Kenneth and Ronald Worthen.
Dusty was a graduate of Burbank High School, and for many years a most revered member of the Burbank Historical Society and the Veteran's Council. He designed the Historical Museum in Burbank. World War II interrupted his college career, when he joined the Air Force. He was a Lead Bombardier/Navigator in a B-24 Liberator crew in the 8th USAAF, 2nd Air Division, 20th Combat Wing. On their 24th mission their B-24 was disabled and crashed. The crew bailed out, but landing in German-held territory, they were confined in several prisoner-of-war camps throughout Germany until liberated on April 29, 1945.
He received the Purple Heart and after the War joined the Air Force Reserves from which he retired in 1983 with the rank of Major. Following the War, his career included design and engineering work with his architect father, then as an architectural designer with the firm of Carpenter/Smallwood, and then as a commercial development Project Manager.
In retirement Dusty wrote two books, "Against All Odds -- Surviving World War II" concerning the combined and separate war experiences of his flight crew; and "Monty's Folly -- Operation Market Garden".
Graveside Services will be held at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills on Monday, March 27, 2006, 10:45 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dusty may be made to the Burbank Historical Society, at 1015 West Olive Ave., Burbank, CA 91506.
Published in Los Angeles Daily News on March 24, 2006
Dusty was a friend of mine. I loved him and his wife Connie and their two beautiful daughters. I dated Jill for a while and I always felt like I was coming home when I went over to their house for a visit.
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