DOVER – Lieutenant Colonel William James Slauson, better known to his friends as “Bill,” USAF-Retired, 86, died Wednesday morning, April 24, 2019, at Langdon Place of Dover. He was born on January 30, 1933 in Arena, Wisconsin. He graduated from Braintree High School in 1951 and from the University of Wisconsin in 1956. Lt. Col. Slauson received his Air Force commission in May 1957. He is a graduate of the Air Force Air Command and Staff College. His military assignments began in Texas and Mississippi. From there he went to Japan, Massachusetts, California, Texas, Indiana, Vietnam, Germany, New York, and he retired from the Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, NH. He was a navigator, and his favorite plane was the B-58. He was well-decorated and earned a number of honors and accolades during his time in the Air Force. Since his retirement in 1985, his hobbies and activities have included golfing, playing bridge, and driving for Tri-City Dodge and Subaru. He enjoyed annual trips out to the family wheat farm in Great Bend, Kansas. Bill traveled all over the country and the world with his wife, Peg. Together, they visited all seven continents of the world. Bill is predeceased by his parents, James and Gladys (Orht) Slauson, and his first wife, LuAn Wallace Slauson, who passed away in 1994. William is survived by his wife Margaret (Peg) Spears Slauson of Dover, NH; his brother John and sister-in-law, Jeannine Slauson of Braintree, MA; his sister Janet and brother-in-law, Jim Mitchell of Belvedere, CA; his daughter, Krisjann and son-in-law, John VanOpdorp of Winchester, MA, his grandchildren, Mika of New York City and Davis and wife Melina VanOpdorp of Bonn, Germany; his son, James and daughter-in-law, Theresa Slauson of San Angelo, TX; his grandchildren, William of San Angelo, TX and James Wallace (J.W.) of Galveston, TX. Bill cherished the family he gained upon marrying Peg, including daughter Darcy (Spears) Fechner of Rochester, NH and her daughter Sara and husband Matt Robinson of Stratham, NH; son Gregg Spears and wife Kelly of Dover, NH, and their daughters Jamie of Australia and Jessica of Keene, NH. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, April 26th from 4-7 p.m. at the Wiggin Purdy Funeral Home, 655 Central Ave., Dover, NH 03820. There will be a brief service immediately following visiting hours. Lt. Col. Slauson will be buried with full military funeral honors in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in the name of William J. Slauson to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517 or Salvation Army (donate to local branch).