Robert L. Cooch Sr.

Robert COOCH Colonel Robert L. Cooch, Sr. Colonel (Ret.) Robert (Bob) L. Cooch, USAF, passed away peacefully with his family in attendance at his home in Bellevue, WA on Sunday, February 20 at the age of 90. Bob was born in Everett, MA, grew up in Waterton, MA, and graduated from Union College, Schenectady, NY in 1943. Bob first learned to fly in 1940 through the Civilian Pilot Training Program, and then began his military career as an Aviation Cadet in 1942. He received a commission in 1944 and, after earning his wings, was assigned to fly the B-24 "Over the Hump" in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations. Prior to leaving for India, he married his sweetheart, Merry June Parr, a romance that endured for 67 years. Following the War, he served as a military statistician in New York, Oklahoma, and Japan, pioneering the use of punch card computers to manage depot inventories. Bob returned to the cockpit in 1949 and amassed thousands of hours flying the B-29, B-50, B-47, B-52, and KC-135 aircraft. He also served as the Director of Command and Control for 15th Air Force, responsible for nuclear response at the height of Cold War tensions. Bob was selected to serve as commander of Fairchild AFB's 92nd Bomb Wing in 1968 and 1969, and was then Deputy Inspector General for SAC at Offutt, AFB. He finished his 30-year career as the Commander of March AFB, Riverside, CA, where he retired in 1972. Following his retirement, Bob became a real estate broker in Redlands, CA, co-founding the Branch-Cooch Company. He was an active member of the Daedalian Society, a fraternity of military pilots; and the Redlands Noon Kiwanis Club, where he served as Distinguished President in 1981. Robert and June bought a residence in Bellevue, WA in order to be near family, and he "happily retired-retired" in 1997, sharing time between Bellevue and Redlands. Bob will be deeply missed by his loving family, friends and neighbors. He is survived by his wife, June, whom he adored all of his days. He was preceded in death by his son, Colonel Robert Cooch, Jr., and granddaughter, Nikki Cooch; and is survived by son James Cooch (wife Barbara) of Bellevue, WA; daughter Debra Thomas (husband Robert) of Renton, WA, and daughter-in-law Barbara A Cooch of Fort Collins, CO. Robert also leaves a legacy of four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, loving nieces and nephews, and a grateful nation. Bob will be buried at Tahoma National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to First United Methodist Church of Redlands, CA and Bellevue, WA; the Noon Kiwanis Club, Redlands, CA; and Order of Daedalians 30th Flight, March Air Force Base, Riverside, CA.