College Station, Texas
Robert Franklin Dees Graveside services with full military honors will be held for First Lieutenant Robert Franklin Dees at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 22, 2011, at Longstreet Historical Cemetery (Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery), County Road 36 West, Ozark, Alabama with U.S. Air Force Chaplain and Reverend Joe Underwood officiating. A POW/MIA table ceremony will be at 5 p.m., Friday, January 21, 2011, at Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home. The DAV Chapter #94, Ozark, Alabama will preside over the ceremony. The family will receive friends following the ceremony until 7 p.m. Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home, Ozark, Alabama, will direct the burial rites assisted by the United States Air Force and the Disabled American Veteran Chapters. First Lieutenant Dees, the son of the late Charles Clayton and Ola Land Dees, was born October 16, 1928 in Moultrie, Georgia. He was of the Baptist faith and attended Mount Olive Baptist Church in Moultrie, Georgia. First Lieutenant Dees has been missing in action and presumed dead since December 31, 1953. On December 21, 2010 identifying evidence was presented to his family by the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation Center and accepted. First Lieutenant Robert Dees remains will be escorted from Pearl Harbor-Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii by a fellow U.S. Air Force Comrade to Pensacola, Florida and thereafter until services are concluded at Longstreet Historical Cemetery (Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery). In addition to his parents other deceased immediate family members include two brothers, John Sumner Dees, Derby, KS, and Charles Harry Dees, Sr., Ozark, AL; sister-in-law, Margie Lewis Dees, Ozark, AL; and niece Donna Elizabeth Dees, Derby, KS. Survivors include a niece, Linda K. Dees, Oz-ark, AL; nephews, Charles Harry Dees, Jr., Ozark, AL, Robert Charles Dees, Huntsville, AL, and Douglas Hardy Dees, Wichita, KS; and a sister-in-law, Barbara Hill Dees, Derby, KS. Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home in Ozark, (334) 774-4551, is in charge of arrangements. Visit us at www.fuquabankston.com A Dignity Memorial Provider. Sign a guest book at www.dothaneagle.com.
This obituary was originally published in the Dothan Eagle.
I knew Lt. Dees' brother's family when I was a child; his niece Donna was my best friend in elementary school. I know that his family must be very proud of his service and his sacrifice, and I say "rest in peace" with the most heartfelt sincerity.
Diana Whitaker Jackson
March 03, 2011 | Columbus, OH
Welcome Home Lt. Dees, Welcome Home, it was long overdo. You made the ultimate sacrifice in order to keep the rest of us safe. The words "THANK YOU" just doesn't seem like its enough for what you did, but THANK YOU. To the Dees family I hope you can get comfort from knowing that Lt. Dees died a TRUE HERO and will NEVER be forgotten.
Rena Crumb
January 22, 2011 | Ozark, AL
Bobby and I were roommates at Georgia Military Academy in 1947-48. My heartfelt sympathy to the family. I used to visit him at his home in Moultrie, GA.
Roland Smith, 3337 Antioch Lane, Gainesville, GA 30506.
January 22, 2011
Special condolences to the Dees family from a veteran of Korea, 1951-52, 25th Army Division.
Johnny Johnson
January 22, 2011 | Dothan, AL
For now a final resting place for a true hero sent not only to protect his country but to keep communism from spreading to other countries. Lt Dees, my family and I salute you.
Ms Linda Dees, your Uncle portrayed unselfishness with that by giing of his own life for our freedom and that of others. I give you my prayers and thoughts in these days of remeberance. May God find the comfort in giving this soldier a final day of rest. I wish I could tell his family that went on not knowing...
LT. COL Michael Hinshaw (retired)
January 21, 2011 | Huntsville, AL
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
ssg(ret)grier walker
January 21, 2011 | Ozark, AL
Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.
pfc ronnie german jr.
January 21, 2011 | Ft Bragg, NC
Lt dees, tomorrow you will be placed in your final resting place. thank you sir for all you have done. now you rest with your fellow soldiers and you listen to the angels sing amazeing grace. thank you sir. god bless you
bonnie german and family
January 21, 2011 | Ozark, AL
1st. Lt. Dees is home - at last. Thank you for your service. Our most sincere condolences to his family and those who have waited so long for this moment. God bless you and keep you safe.
Barry & Priscilla Andrews-Ford
"Citizen Soldier Support,Inc."
January 21, 2011