CMSgt (Ret) Rafal Szulczynski peacefully passed away, Jan. 10, 2014 in Midwest City at the age of 87.
Born in Slupca, Poland in 1926, he was forced into a slave labor camp during World War II by German forces until liberated by the American Army in 1945. Not wanting to return to a communist Poland, he joined the US sponsored Polish Guard and continued working for the US Army until immigrating to the US in the early 1950s.
Rafal joined the USAF and met the love of his life, Viola. They married Christmas Day 1953. His 30 year career included serving in the United States, Japan, Vietnam and Korea. He spent 10 years in Saudi Arabia working for Lockheed Martin. Rafal earned his B.A. from Christopher Newport College in 1984.
He was preceded in death by his wife Viola. He is survived by three children, Mary Kathrine Parker (Jim), Rafal Stefan Szulczynski (Debbie) and Jan Ryzsard Szulczynski (Michelle), grandchildren Caitlin Acosta (Tomas), Stevie Szulczynski (Crystal) and Tony Szulczynski, great-grandchildren Cameron Szulczynski, Madden Kendrick, JR Acosta and his devoted dog Ciggy.
