General Robert W. "Bob" Bazley USAF (Ret.)

General Robert "Bob" W. Bazley, USAF (Ret.)
Chapel Hill
General Robert "Bob" W. Bazley, USAF (Ret.), born December 5, 1925, passed away quietly at his home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on December 16, 2012 in the loving company of his wife Sandra and her son Jeff. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Corps in September of 1943 following high school graduation in Brentwood, Pennsylvania. Due to age requirements, he was unable to serve on active duty until after his 18th birthday, whereupon he reported to Ft. Mead, Maryland in January of 1944. Bob had the honor and privilege of serving as a commander at every organizational level throughout his career. Following just over two years of active duty, he returned to the University of Pittsburgh and to his high school sweetheart, Delores Belin. They married on September 6, 1947, had two daughters, Sherry and Barbara, and two sons, William and Thomas. After 43 years and 35 moves while in the USAF, Bob retired in 1987 as a four-star general and Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Air Force. His wife of 61 years, Delores, passed away in 2002. In 2003, he married Sandra Vander Clute. He lived in Chapel Hill for 18 years, where he was involved in service to his community and enjoyed many wonderful friends. Bob survived WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam, including 259 combat sorties without personal injury. He always considered himself to be one of mankind's luckiest citizens thanks to his marriage to two wonderful women and having survived three wars. He is survived by his daughter, Sherry Bazley; daughter, Barbara Youngblood, and son-in-law, Henri Youngblood; sister, Phyllis Happel; eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; his wife, Sandra, and her sons, William, Edward, and Jeffrey Vander Clute.
A memorial service and reception will be held January 5, 2013 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Governors Club in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Interment will be at Arlington Cemetery at a later date to be determined.