Photo courtesy of Andrews Mortuary and Crematory - Market Street Chapel - Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Aug 8, 1924 – Apr 24, 2018
Colonel Robert C. Newman, Jr. (USAF-Ret.) died on April 24, 2018 in Wilmington, N.C. Born in Lynch Station, Virginia in 1924, he was the son of the late Robert C. Newman and Nadine Miles Newman. He served 30 years in the Air Force as a pilot, squadron and wing commander, and in a number of staff jobs. He flew combat missions in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. His twenty-two military decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army and Air Force Commendation Medals. He retired from the Air Force in 1973.
He was a member of Wrightsville United Methodist Church, the Air Force Association, the Association of Naval Aviation, the Military Officer Association of America, the Quiet Birdmen and the Wilmington Senior Men’s Club. He was a past member of Rotary International, Burlington, N.C. and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a graduate of the University of Maryland, the Naval War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Josephine, of the home; daughters Kathy Reed of Wilmington, and Elizabeth Brown and husband, Alan, of Richmond, Virginia. He is also survived by a son, Dr. Robert J. Newman and wife, Anne, of Virginia Beach, Va. Seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren also survive. He was preceded in death by a sister, Eleanor Newman Hall.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 30, 2018 at 11 am. at Wrightsville United Methodist Church with Pastor Doug Lain officiating. Burial will be at Sea Lawn Memorial Park, Hampstead, N.C. at 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Wrightsville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 748, Wrightsville Beach, N.C. 28480 and/or Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.
He was one of the BEST of the Greatest Generation and a true American who is very missed!
Charles Hornaday
April 19, 2024 | GRAHAM, NC | Friend
I moved away from Wilmington almost three years before Bob died. I still find it hard to digest. Everything anyone has said on this board is true for his life was one of quiet heroism, in the truest sense. 25 B-17 missions over Germany, and he brought every crewman back alive, a man of quiet sensibility, upright character, and my favorite because we talked politics a lot over lunch, the world's last living moderate Republican. What will we do now? (Josephine, "Jo" by the way, was a perfect...
Charles Anderson
April 07, 2022
The greatest of men that God put on this earth!! Colonel Newman I am so blessed to have known you in my lifetime!! You were without a doubt one of God angels on earth!
Jeffrey Butler
April 19, 2020 | Little River, SC | Coworker
I sure do miss the those phone calls. I spoke to Mrs Newman recently and she is such a delightful lady. The Col and Jo always loved each and everyone of the ROTC students. Always encouraged each of us to be "the best" we could be.
Ann Smith White
April 19, 2019 | NC | Student
Col.Newman is a very important person in my life, concerning my military background. He was my instructor in ROTC while I attended Southern alamance high school. A great and very helpful leader in some of my important decisions in life. He was always there for myself as well as many others. God Bless you ser. Prayers.
Russell Burnette
April 19, 2019 | Burlington, NC | Friend
Col. Newman was a true hero to his Country and community. I first met him in 1984 while in ROTC at Southern Alamance. His leadership and knowledge have had a positive impact on me since then. He was an outstanding leader and gentleman and will be missed.
Darren Poe
May 30, 2018 | NC | Student
Bob was so thoughtful and caring. He would hold a parking place, physically, for my husband, Chris who could only walk short distances. They knew each other years earlier during work in Washington DC and Chris thought the world of him. Bob was also so kind in his remarks at Chris' service in 2014, so dear to my family at the time.
You are in my thoughts and prayers at this time. I am so thankful you two crossed our lives paths and we had the opportunity to know you.
Joy Guenther
April 30, 2018 | Wilmington, NC | Friend
Bob Newman was a client of mine (Carol's Clip Joint-haircutting) when I had my first shop on Oleander Drive and my second in Odgen area (now Tame the Mane-barber shop). A terrific gentlemen who also introduced us to the, now defunct, WBMC yearly cookout. Since my husband and I come from Brooklyn, NY he would tell us of his granddaughter when she lived in that area. Always enjoyable and he brought his wife in (Mrs. Newman did not get her hair cut, but we loved her anyway), we had great...
Carol Ryan
April 30, 2018 | Wilmington, NC
Bob and Jo Newman are the finest finest people we have ever met. Bob was the absolute epitome of an honored veteran. We can all go thru a lifetime and never meet a giant such as he......fortunately we were honored to know him and love him. Prayers for Jo and their family. Alice and Joe Tysinger
April 30, 2018